Key lessons from the grid-connected solar irrigation pilot project in Nepal

Shrestha, S.; Karki, D.; Mishra, A.; KC, S.; Ravindranath, D. 2025. Key lessons from the grid-connected solar irrigation pilot project in Nepal. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 6p. (Solar Irrigation for Agricultural Resilience [SoLAR] Issue Brief Series 9)

This issue brief presents lessons from Nepal’s first grid-connected Solar Irrigation Pump (SIP) pilot in Chhipaharmai Rural Municipality, Parsa. The initiative integrated eight off-grid SIPs into a 20 kWp community-scale system, providing year-round irrigation, reducing diesel use, and improving farm productivity. Farmers gained new income from water sales, while women benefited from reduced workloads, locally repairable pumps, and targeted training. Persistent gender norms and policy hurdles around net-metering and tariffs limited full benefits. Key lessons highlight the importance of community ownership, gender-inclusive design, capacity-building, and regulatory adaptation to scale grid-connected SIPs as a sustainable irrigation solution in Nepal.