Very Weak Isolated Microhydro Grid Effects on Electric Cooking in Nepal

Abstract

Simli is a village of 450 households with a minigrid supplied solely by a 29kW microhydro system. The very weak grid performance during the dry season is presented and the interactions between energy use and grid operating practices are investigated. The results are given for eight households, trialling four types of electric cookers, in order to reduce firewood use. There is considerable interaction between the electric cookers and the power system. The effects of the power system and the electric stoves on the cooking preferences is also revealed. The addition of electric stoves during the evening cooking hours lead to an increase in the frequency of short power outages causing major interruptions while cooking.