Our PPRE alumni (2006-08), Dr. Sunil Pd. Lohani, has been an associate professor at Kathmandu University, Nepal, since 2018. He is also the lead of the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Laboratory (RSEL), which is an interdisciplinary research laboratory at Kathmandu University. Dr. Lohani has recently published the 2023 bulletin of RSEL and reports on some recent projects.
The Renewable and Sustainable Energy Laboratory (RSEL) has partnering professors in over twenty countries, including the U.S., Australia, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Thailand, China, India, and Sri Lanka. Dr. Lohani, as the leader of the program, is very proud on the borad network they have established. ”We welcome and look forward to engage with any potential collaborators who share our passion and interest in our endeavor” ( Dr. Sunil Pd. Lohani, RSEL Bulletin 2023).
In 2023, the PhD students who participated in the RSEL focussed their research on, for example, pathways for 100% renewable energy in Nepal and on technical (Geeta Bhatta) and environmental assessment of household bio-digester in Nepal (Navin K. Jha). In addition, some master’s students of RSEL also completed their theses in 2023. The topics included, for instance, ”Techno-Economic Analysis of Pumped Hydro Energy Storage in Context of Nepal” (Prabin Dhakal) and ”Energy and Carbon Footprint for Urban Food System: A Case Study of Kathmandu Valley” (Rohini Khyen).
The RSEL includes different projects such as international network events, workshops, field visits, and keynote speaches. One of those projects was the Interaction Program with the faculties and students at Gauradaha Agriculture Campus in January 2023, a RE-Tech Project Networking Event. Another networking event consisted of a visited to the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Heidelberg University and Center for European Economic Research in Germany in September 2023. One offered workshop focussed on Strengthening Teaching and Research on Sustainable Development Goals and was hosted by AIT, Thailand, in August 2023. Among others, Dr. Sunil Pd. Lohani also went on a field visit to an industry partner, Pokhara wash Pvt. Ltd., in March 2023.
Read the entire RSEL ANNUAL BULLETIN-2023.