Nepal energy mix & electricity
Power plants in Nepal produced 11.1 TWh of electricity in 2024. The supply is almost entirely hydropower, which accounted for 98.8% of generation; solar power made up most of the remainder (1.1%).
Electricity generation by source in 2024
Share of electricity generation by source, with the change in percentage points over the last ten years.
| Source | TWh | Share | 10-yr Δ pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 11 | 98.8% | −0.4 |
| Solar | 0.12 | 1.1% | +0.6 |
| Wind | 0.01 | 0.1% | −0.2 |
| Total | 11.13 | 100% |
Nepal: electricity in context
Power plants in Nepal produced 11.1 TWh of electricity in 2024. That is similar to Bhutan. The supply is almost entirely hydropower, which accounted for 98.8% of generation; solar power made up most of the remainder (1.1%).
Renewables supplied 100% of the electricity, which ranks Nepal 1st of 158 countries (among the very top). This puts it 66 points above the world average of 33.8%. It is also above the average for Asia (27.3%). Generating one kWh emits about 24 g CO₂e here (world average: 458 g). Few grids anywhere are this clean. On carbon intensity, Nepal ranks 4th of 158 from the cleanest.
Since 2014, the fastest-growing source has been hydropower: its output rose by 7.2 TWh, lifting its share by 0.4 percentage points. Overall, the renewable share has barely moved over ten years (a change of under one percentage point).
Coal has never been part of the power mix in Nepal in any meaningful way.
Wind and solar together provided 1.2% of electricity (solar 1.1%, wind 0.1%), compared with 17.3% worldwide.
Nepal generates 375 kWh of electricity per resident each year, 10% of the global average. Cross-border trade is roughly balanced.
How the power mix has changed
Electricity generation by source since 2000. Switch to shares to see the structural shift independent of demand growth.
Renewables and carbon intensity
Nepal against the world and Asia averages.
Total energy: beyond electricity
Primary energy covers transport, heating and industry too. Per person, that is 1,935 kWh a year (world: 21,654).
Domestic extraction of coal, gas and oil, in energy terms.
Power plants in Nepal
The WRI Global Power Plant Database lists 14 utility-scale plants in Nepal with a combined capacity of 0.6 GW. Hydro plants account for the largest slice (95% of listed capacity). The biggest single plant is Kali Gandaki Hydroelectric Power Plant Nepal (144 MW, Hydro). The database was last updated in 2021, so newer wind and solar farms and rooftop PV are under-represented.
Largest power plants
| # | Plant | Fuel | Capacity MW | Commissioned | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kali Gandaki Hydroelectric Power Plant Nepal | Hydro | 144 | — | — |
| 2 | Middle Marsyangdi Hydroelectric Power Plant Nepal | Hydro | 70 | — | — |
| 3 | Marsyangdi Hydroelectric Power Plant Nepal | Hydro | 69 | — | — |
| 4 | Khimti Hydroelectric Power Plant Nepal | Hydro | 60 | — | — |
| 5 | Kulekhani-I Hydroelectric Power Plant Nepal | Hydro | 60 | — | — |
| 6 | Bhote Koshi Hydroelectric Power Plant Nepal | Hydro | 45 | — | — |
| 7 | Kulekhani-II Hydroelectric Power Plant Nepal | Hydro | 32 | — | — |
| 8 | Devighat | Solar | 25 | — | — |
| 9 | Trishuli Hydroelectric Power Plant Nepal | Hydro | 24 | — | — |
| 10 | Gandak Hydroelectric Power Plant Nepal | Hydro | 15 | — | — |
| 11 | Modi Khola Hydroelectric Power Plant Nepal | Hydro | 15 | — | — |
| 12 | Devighat Hydroelectric Power Plant Nepal | Hydro | 14 | — | — |
| 13 | Sunkosi Hydroelectric Power Plant Nepal | Hydro | 10 | — | — |
| 14 | Panauti | Solar | 5 | — | — |
Source: WRI Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0). Explore all 14 plants on the interactive power plant map.
Solar & wind farms: Nepal
155 utility-scale facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor (2026): 167 MW of solar and 0 MW of wind operating, plus 2.1 GW under construction or planned.
How does Nepal compare?
Nepal next to 6 neighbouring countries, plus regional and world averages. Click a column to sort; use “Compare” for full side-by-side charts.
| Country | Renewable % | Low-carbon % | Fossil % | gCO₂/kWh | kWh / person | Generation TWh | Mix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nepal | 100% | 100% | 0% | 24 | 375 | 11.1 | — | |
| China | 37% | 41.7% | 58.3% | 525 | 7,474 | 10,583 | Compare | |
| India | 24.1% | 26.7% | 73.3% | 670 | 1,422 | 2,082 | Compare | |
| Bhutan | 100% | 100% | 0% | 24 | 13,897 | 11 | Compare | |
| Bangladesh | 2.1% | 2.1% | 97.9% | 696 | 589 | 103 | Compare | |
| Pakistan | 42.7% | 54.9% | 45.1% | 347 | 764 | 195 | Compare | |
| Myanmar | 47.9% | 47.9% | 52.1% | 503 | 398 | 21.7 | Compare | |
| Asia average | 27.3% | 32.1% | 67.9% | 573 | 3,749 | 18,015 | Compare | |
| World average | 33.8% | 42.6% | 57.4% | 458 | 3,860 | 31,772 | Compare |
Calculators for Nepal
Nepal energy: frequently asked questions
What percentage of electricity in Nepal is renewable?
What is the main source of electricity in Nepal?
How clean is the electricity in Nepal?
Does Nepal have nuclear power?
How much electricity does Nepal use per person?
How much solar power does Nepal produce?
Does Nepal import electricity?
More countries in Asia
Sources & references
- Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
- Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
- Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries
- World Resources Institute: Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0) — power plant locations and capacity
Electricity data: Ember and Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0); latest year 2024. Power plants: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). Rankings exclude systems under 1 TWh and values older than 2020. Figures may be revised by the original publishers.