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🇰🇵 Solar Calculator Nepal

Enter your monthly NEA electricity bill in Nepali rupees and region — get solar system size, NEA net metering export credits (2023 rules), monsoon production adjustment, AEPC off-grid subsidies for trekking regions, and 25-year savings.

Your electricity details
रूNPR
Solar system results — Nepal
5 kWp system — 1209 kWh/kWp/yr
Annual solar production (monsoon-adjusted)6,044 kWh/yr
Self-consumption savingsरू 26,595/yr
NEA net metering export (retail rate)रू 39,893/yr
Total annual benefitरू 66,488/yr
System cost rangeरू 375,000 – रू 550,000
Cost in USD (approx)$2,820 – $4,135
Payback period7.0 years
25-year net savingsरू 1,199,710
Monsoon note: Production is reduced approximately 8% annually due to cloud cover during the June–September monsoon season (this adjustment is already applied). Kathmandu and Pokhara are most affected; Mustang and the Trans-Himalayan region are least affected.
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How to Use This Calculator

Enter your monthly NEA bill in Nepali rupees

Enter your average monthly electricity bill from NEA (Nepal Electricity Authority) in NPR (Nepali rupees). NEA uses a progressive tiered tariff: low consumers pay around NPR 8/kWh while higher consumption tiers reach NPR 15/kWh. The calculator uses NPR 11/kWh as a blended average. For trekking lodge or off-grid scenarios without NEA connection, set the bill to 0 and select off-grid mode — AEPC subsidies may apply for rural off-grid installations.

Select your region and note the Mustang altitude advantage

Nepal's solar resources vary dramatically by geography. Mustang (5.5 PSH) in the upper Himalayan trans-Himalayan zone is Nepal's solar champion — sitting in the rain shadow of the Himalayas, it barely experiences the monsoon and benefits from high-altitude UV intensity. Lumbini and Janakpur (4.7 PSH) in the fertile Terai lowlands along the Indian border have excellent flat-terrain solar exposure. Kathmandu Valley (4.5 PSH) has good resources despite valley haze. Pokhara (4.4 PSH) is slightly lower due to its lake-effect microclimate and higher rainfall.

Monsoon production impact

Nepal's June–September monsoon season significantly increases cloud cover in most regions, reducing solar production by 20–30% during those four months. The calculator applies an 8% annual monsoon adjustment factor across all locations except Mustang. This makes Nepal's effective annual production lower than raw PSH figures suggest for most locations. Battery storage helps bridge the gap between monsoon (low production) and winter (high production, low cloud) periods.

The Formula

Monthly kWh = Monthly Bill ÷ NPR 11/kWh (NEA blended tiered rate) Annual production = kWp × PSH × 365 × 0.80 efficiency × 0.92 monsoon factor Self-consumption = Annual kWh × 40% (NEA net metering) or 80% (off-grid) Self-consumption savings = Self-consumed kWh × NPR 11/kWh retail NEA net metering export = Exported kWh × NPR 11/kWh (at retail, since 2023) System cost = kWp × NPR 75,000–110,000/kWp (~$550–820/kWp) AEPC subsidy available for rural off-grid (varies by program) Payback = Total cost ÷ Annual benefit (typically 5–8 years grid-tied)

NEA introduced net metering regulations in 2023 under Nepal's Electricity Act (2018 amendment) and the Renewable Energy Subsidy Policy. AEPC (Alternative Energy Promotion Centre) administers subsidies for off-grid and rural solar. The 2023 net metering rules require a bidirectional smart meter and NEA connection agreement. System costs of NPR 75,000–110,000/kWp (~$550–820/kWp) are competitive — Nepal's proximity to Indian and Chinese panel supply chains keeps costs low.

Example

Rajan — Kathmandu home, 5kWp with NEA net metering

Rajan pays NPR 2,000/month for his Kathmandu home. He installs a 5kWp system and registers for NEA net metering under the 2023 rules.

Monthly billNPR 2,000 (~$15)
Region / PSHKathmandu, 4.5 PSH
System size5 kWp
Net meteringYes — NEA 2023 rules

Result

Annual production (monsoon-adj.)~6,022 kWh/yr
Production per kWp~1,204 kWh/kWp/yr
Self-consumption savings~NPR 26,497/yr
NEA net metering export~NPR 39,745/yr
Total annual benefit~NPR 66,242/yr
System costNPR 375,000 – NPR 550,000
Cost in USD~$2,820 – $4,135
Payback~7.0 years
25-year net savings~NPR 1,193,550

Kathmandu's 4.5 PSH with monsoon adjustment gives around 1,204 kWh/kWp/yr. The NEA net metering scheme makes this a solid investment. Note: Nepal's electricity rates are expected to rise as NEA's financial position improves and cross-subsidies reduce, which would further improve solar ROI over the 25-year system life.

FAQ

Yes — Nepal has good to excellent solar resources (4.4–5.5 PSH depending on region) and system costs of $550–820/kWp are among South Asia's most competitive. Grid-tied systems with NEA net metering (since 2023) achieve payback in 5–8 years. Mustang achieves some of Asia's best solar economics due to 5.5 PSH and minimal monsoon impact. Rural off-grid systems replacing kerosene or diesel are even more financially compelling and are subsidized by AEPC.
NEA introduced net metering regulations in 2023 following Nepal's Electricity Act amendment. Grid-connected solar prosumers with bidirectional meters can export surplus production to the NEA grid and receive credit at the full retail tariff rate. Credits offset future bills. To register: install a NEA-approved bidirectional meter (your installer handles this), sign a prosumer connection agreement with your local NEA office, and commission the system with a licensed electrical contractor. Residential systems up to 25kWp and commercial systems up to 500kWp qualify.
AEPC (Alternative Energy Promotion Centre, aepc.gov.np) administers Nepal's rural renewable energy subsidy program. Off-grid solar home systems in rural areas (particularly in hilly and mountain districts) qualify for subsidies ranging from NPR 25,000–50,000+ per system depending on capacity and remoteness. The subsidy is applied at installation — pay only the net amount. AEPC also subsidizes micro-hydro, biogas, and improved cookstoves. Community-scale off-grid systems for trekking lodges and remote schools may access additional international donor funding. Contact AEPC Kathmandu or your district's Energy Division office for current program availability.
Mustang (Upper and Lower Mustang) sits in the trans-Himalayan rain shadow at 3,800–4,200m altitude. The Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs block monsoon moisture from the Bay of Bengal, giving Mustang a semi-arid Tibetan plateau climate with over 300 sunny days per year. At 5.5 PSH, it rivals the Atacama Desert and the Sahara for solar intensity. High altitude reduces atmospheric absorption and increases UV irradiance, boosting panel output by 5–10% above equivalent sea-level systems. Solar is the dominant energy source for Mustang communities — diesel transport costs make grid power impractical.
Installed solar costs in Nepal range from NPR 75,000–110,000/kWp (approximately $550–820/kWp). A 5kWp residential system costs NPR 375,000–550,000 ($2,820–4,135). Nepal benefits from proximity to Indian and Chinese panel supply chains. Tata Power Solar, Vikram Solar, and Chinese brands (Longi, Risen) dominate. Remote mountain locations add transport and installation costs — a system in Mustang or upper Solukhumbu may cost 30–50% more due to helicopter or porter transport of equipment. AEPC-subsidized systems for rural communities are installed at lower net cost through approved local distributors.

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