Nepal’s industrial energy needs are rapidly evolving. It is no longer just about accessing electricity; it’s about ensuring power that is reliable, resilient and sustainable. Frequent grid outages and reliance on costly diesel generators underscore the urgent need for more efficient solutions.
That’s where GRIPS2 (Grid Resilience through Intelligent Photovoltaic Storage, Phase 2) comes in. Developed through a collaboration between Gham Power, Practical Action and Swanbarton, GRIPS2 introduces Nepal’s one-of-a-kind battery-based microgrid, a game-changing step toward industrial decarbonisation and sustainable growth.

Why GRIPS2 Matters for Nepal’s Industries

The industrial sector accounts for about 40% of Nepal’s carbon emissions. While most of the country’s electricity is generated from hydropower and other renewables, distribution challenges lead to frequent outages. To cope, industries often depend on diesel generators, which drive up costs and emissions.

GRIPS2 provides a smarter alternative. By combining solar PV, advanced battery storage and AI-driven control systems, it delivers clean, cost-effective and uninterrupted energy that helps industries cut costs while meeting sustainability goals.

The GRIPS Journey: From Pilot to Industrial Scale

The first phase, GRIPS1, piloted a 100 kW smart microgrid in Kathmandu. This project proved that renewable energy paired with battery storage could replace diesel generators as reliable backup power for residential and commercial users. It also incorporated Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) principles, ensuring positive impact beyond energy access.

Building on this success, GRIPS2 scales up the innovation to an industrial level at Laxmi Steel Factory, one of Nepal’s largest manufacturers.

The system integrates:

• 2 MW / 4 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
• 1 MWp Solar PV installation
• Swanbarton’s Microgrid Management System (MMS) for smart and AI-powered energy optimization

Smarter Energy, Seamless Power, Scalable Impact

GRIPS2 is more than just a product; it is a comprehensive smart energy platform designed to transform how industries in Nepal manage power. By making operations more reliable, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable, it equips industries with smarter tools and solutions to stay resilient and future-ready in today’s rapidly evolving energy landscape.

Here’s what GRIPS2 offers to industries:

• Energy Resilience: Keeps operations running even during unexpected grid failures with generator-free backup.
• Cost Efficiency: Cuts down on expensive peak-hour charges and reduces fuel costs by minimizing reliance on diesel generators.
• Sustainable Growth: Lowers carbon emissions and helps industries meet their sustainability targets while contributing to a cleaner environment.
• Smart Control: Uses AI-powered load management to prioritize critical operations, making energy use smarter and more efficient.
• Scalability: A tried-and-tested model that can be scaled across industrial sites in Nepal and South Asia.

Real and Transformational Impact

GRIPS2 is expected to demonstrate measurable benefits:

• USD 1.3 Million+ in Energy Savings
• 2,800+ Tonnes of CO₂ Emissions Reduced
• Full elimination of diesel backup for critical loads
• Direct contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

But the impact extends far beyond numbers, touching the environment, society, economy and inclusivity.

• Environmental Benefits: It reduces diesel use and CO₂ emissions, improves local air quality, and supports biodiversity and waste management through CSR initiatives.
• Social Benefits: It promotes safer and cleaner workplace environments through workforce training on solar and battery safety, and improves community health by reducing air pollution.
• Economic Benefits: It stabilises energy supply, ensuring uninterrupted industrial output. This protects businesses from fuel price volatility and strengthens competitiveness of Nepalese industries in regional markets.
• Inclusion Benefits: The GESI framework ensures active participation of women and marginalised groups. Policies for inclusive employment and a steering committee tracking KPIs further ensure equitable participation.

A Step Toward Nepal’s Clean Energy Future

At its core, GRIPS2 represents a vision for industrial transformation in Nepal. By combining solar, storage, and AI-powered controls, it sets a new standard for how industries can power their operations by being smarter, cleaner and more resilient than ever before.
For Gham Power and its partners, the mission is clear: to accelerate the clean energy transition by delivering scalable, inclusive and future-ready solutions.
With GRIPS2, the future of industrial energy in Nepal is not just on the horizon; it is already here.

Contributed by – Aakriti Timilsena, Marketing Assistant

The GRIPS project is funded through Accelerate-to-Demonstrate (A2D) Facility which is managed by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) with funding from the UK Government.