Renewable Energy Education for Off-Grid Villages in the Himalayan Region of Nepal
Keywords:
renewable energy education, off-grid villages, Himalayan Nepal, solar photovoltaic literacy, community-based learning, energy povertyAbstract
Chronic energy poverty in the off-grid villages of Nepal’s Himalayan region perpetuates a compounding cycle of economic stagnation, environmental degradation, and educational deprivation that disproportionately disadvantages women, youth, and indigenous mountain communities. This community-based participatory action research (CBPAR) study examined the effectiveness of a structured renewable energy education program implemented across five off-grid village clusters in Dolpa, Mugu, Humla, Rasuwa, and Solukhumbu Districts over a 12-month intervention cycle (February 2024–January 2025). Engaging 150 participants—comprising household members, village energy committee representatives, school teachers, and local artisans—the program delivered solar photovoltaic literacy modules, micro-hydropower operation training, biogas system education, and energy governance workshops. Mixed-methods assessment employing pre- and post-intervention knowledge tests, focus group discussions, and ethnographic observations revealed a mean effect size of Cohen’s d = 0.93 across six renewable energy literacy indicators, with statistically significant improvements (p < .001) at all sites. Community energy committee formation, Village Energy Technician certification, and gender-inclusive facilitation emerged as pivotal mechanisms sustaining knowledge transfer and behavioral adoption beyond the formal program cycle.
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