According to a 2018 World Bank paper: ‘…inadequate access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity is a fundamental reason for Nepal's poor economic competitiveness’. Two‐thirds of Nepal's firms identify electricity as a major constraint to doing business in Nepal.

Nepal is one of a number of countries being considered by DFID for future additional energy research investment. A scoping study by EEG aimed to identify potential research questions of use to decision makers and practitioners in the energy sector, and to explore the extent of research capability in the country.

This new Energy Insight lays out the key issues and challenges identified during the scoping exercise.