Nepal Energy Foundation (NEF) is a non-profit professional organization that works in energy sector of Nepal. It was established in 2015 and is legally registered under Company Act 2006. NEF is managed by highly motivated and experienced board of directors and overseen by Managing Director in accordance with the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association.
Nepal Energy Foundation is dedicated to promote sustainable energy in Nepal since its establishment. Aim of NEF is to contribute for ensuring sustainable, reliable and affordable energy solutions in Nepal through capacity building, research, policy innovation, community mobilization and awareness creation. For ensuring the sustainability of distributed renewable energy generation projects (e.g. Micro Hydro and Solar), NEF provides its continuous efforts through innovative approaches. Partnership with, supporting, and advising local government to opt in climate friendly energy solutions, and preparation of policy in various aspects of energy sector is a major focus of NEF. NEF is committed and continually contributing to achieve SEforALL goals and SDGs.
NEF was established with the aim of providing efforts for making the energy sector of Nepal sustainable and has been successful in starting some initiatives as envisioned. NEF has been able to start few major initiatives that are of great importance to entire energy sector, to the society, and the nation, which are described below:
Formation of NAMHUS:
Recognizing the critical role of distributed generation in building a resilient and sustainable energy system, and valuing the significant contribution of communities in developing and operating mini and micro hydropower projects (MHPs), Nepal Energy Foundation (NEF) has been continuously working to strengthen the long-term sustainability of MHPs across Nepal.
One of NEF’s key initiatives in this area has been facilitating the establishment of the National Mini/Micro Hydro Power Users Society, Nepal (NAMHUS). Today, NAMHUS has 125 MHPs as members from across the country, providing a common platform for MHP users to address shared challenges, exchange knowledge and experiences, and collectively advocate for an enabling environment for the sustainable operation of community-based hydropower systems.
NAMHUS represents MHP users from diverse regions of Nepal and works to strengthen energy security, local economic development, and energy access for remote and underserved communities. Through evidence-based advocacy and policy engagement, the network aims to ensure that the concerns and priorities of MHP users are reflected in relevant policies, regulations, and programs.
The network focuses on strengthening the technical and managerial capacities of MHP users in areas such as grid synchronization, synchronization policies, electricity tariffs, plant operation, and management. At the same time, NAMHUS promotes the productive use of locally generated electricity by supporting communities to develop income-generating activities and create new economic opportunities within their localities.
By combining capacity development, policy advocacy, technical support, and promotion of productive energy use, NAMHUS contributes to improving the operational and financial viability of MHPs and, ultimately, strengthening the long-term sustainability of decentralized and community-owned energy systems in Nepal.
Formation of WoNEE:
Furthermore, recognizing the need to institutionalize and strengthen women’s contributions to the energy and environment sector, NEF facilitated the establishment of the Women Network for Energy and Environment (WoNEE) on 3 September 2017. WoNEE was established to promote women’s meaningful participation in energy-related policy processes, decision-making, and development initiatives.
WoNEE has established a presence across all seven provinces of Nepal and is mobilizing more than 100 local women’s networks, creating a broad grassroots platform for local women. Through its extensive social mobilization capacity, WoNEE works to strengthen women’s economic empowerment, enhance their participation in decision-making, and amplify their voices in energy and environmental governance.
The network also serves as an advocacy platform for promoting gender-responsive and women-friendly energy policies, while creating a sustained mechanism to mainstream gender equality and social inclusion across Nepal’s energy sector. Through capacity building, community mobilization, policy advocacy, and engagement with relevant stakeholders, WoNEE aims to ensure that women are not only beneficiaries of energy development but also active participants and decision-makers in shaping Nepal’s energy future.
Other Initiatives:
With the vision that green hydrogen can play a significant role in strengthening Nepal’s long-term energy security, Nepal Energy Foundation (NEF) has been working with international partners to pilot green hydrogen production and explore its application as a clean cooking fuel. Through these initiatives, NEF is contributing to the development and demonstration of innovative, locally relevant solutions that can support Nepal’s transition toward a low-carbon and sustainable energy system.
NEF has also been providing technical assistance and capacity-building support to the National Mini/Micro Hydro Power Users Society (NAMHUS) and mini and micro hydropower projects (MHPs), particularly in areas such as grid interconnection, grid synchronization, system operation, and institutional capacity development. These efforts aim to enhance the sustainability and productive use of decentralized hydropower systems and strengthen their contribution to local energy security and economic development.
In addition to its work in research, innovation, capacity building, and policy advocacy, NEF has contributed to Nepal’s regional energy cooperation through its role as a Nepal Think Tank on Cross-Border Energy Trade. Through this work, NEF developed a robust framework and model for cross-border electricity trade, providing evidence-based analysis and recommendations to support Nepal’s engagement in regional power markets. The work contributed to the development of the Nepal–India power trade framework, strengthening opportunities for Nepal to participate in cross-border electricity trade and regional energy cooperation.
