📖+10 XP
🎧+10 XP
✅+15 XP
Nepal’s large solar potential blocked by policy and bordersCEFR A1
4 Nov 2025
Adapted from Sonia Awale, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Calum Hill, Unsplash
Level A1 – BeginnerCEFR A1
2 min
70 words
- Globally, renewable energy now produces more electricity than coal.
- Solar provided 83 percent of the global increase.
- Nepal's technical solar potential equals 432 gigawatts total.
- The country has more than 300 sunny days yearly.
- Hydropower potential is 42,000 megawatts only.
- Glacial lake floods make hydropower less stable.
- Government caps solar at ten percent of electricity.
- Solar now supplies only five percent of power.
- Border politics have blocked some solar projects.
Difficult words
- sunshine — Light and warmth from the sun.
- energy — Power that can be used to do something.energy use
- hydropower — Electricity made from moving water.
- solar — Related to the sun or using sunlight.solar energy, solar power
- needs — Things that are necessary for survival.
- policies — Rules or plans made by a government.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think solar energy is hard to use in Nepal?
- How important is it to have stable energy sources?
- What could Nepal do to use more solar energy?
Related articles
10 Aug 2025
Iran's water emergency worsens amid heat and outages
A summer heatwave and widespread power outages have intensified Iran’s water emergency. Officials report sharply falling dam reserves, groundwater depletion and possible summer rationing as authorities warn of harder measures to save energy and water.
20 Mar 2026
29 Apr 2026
30 Apr 2026
Demand for clean-energy minerals harms poor regions
A UN report warns that rising global demand for minerals for clean energy is causing environmental damage, water loss and health harms in poorer mining regions, while richer countries gain most benefits. The report urges reforms to protect water and people.
23 Mar 2026