This article by Alex Zahnd was first published in World Rivers Review in February 2005. He writes about a program that utilizes local renewable energy resources in more affordable, sustainable and appropriate ways.

A Holistic Approach To Community Development: Bringing Water, Sanitation, Heat and Light to Rural Villages in Nepal

The following article has been published in Renewable Energy World Magazine:
A mountain to climb? How pico-hydro helps rural development in the Himalayas

RIDS-Nepal has a good relationship with the company DataTaker from Melbourne Australia. They develop and manufacture high quality data loggers. We use several different DataTaker data loggers for various Research Projects in the RIDS-Nepal Humla research projects and the Kathmandu University research project. One of the RIDS-Nepal research projects in Humla is measuring and recording data of the performance of a solar PV power system with a dataTaker DT605 since 3 years.

In the remote villages in Humla in the northwestern corner of Nepal even a simple thing like electric light in their homes can change a life. The current method of lighting is to burn sticks covered in tree resin. The resin is a poor light source and produces smoke that can have detrimental effects on the health of the people in the household. Kathmandu University is investigating using Solar Panels to provide electrical power to run high intensity White Light Emitting Diodes (WLEDs) to provide basic lighting. As part of the investigation they are monitoring Photo Voltaic performance, current consumption battery and voltage inverter performance as well as temperature readings. Read the article: Monitoring remote power in Nepal

POTENTIAL FOR SOLAR DRYERS AND GREENHOUSES IN HUMLA
Dr Bob Fuller, Senior Research Academic
Deakin University and The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

The province of Humla is a permanent food deficient area where food security and malnutrition are serious issues. Between 2002-4, Kathmandu University developed a holistic community development project in Humla. This project is now operated in conjunction with RIDS-Nepal.

ENGINEERING A BETTER WORLD
Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Australia and Rural Integrated Development Service - Nepal
Collaborative projects in the Humla region, Nepal

Mr Brad Hiller, EWB Australia

Engineers Without Borders Australia works with disadvantaged communities, both within Australia and in other countries. EWB Australia and RIDS-Nepal are working collaboratively on a holistic community development project in the remote Humla region in north-western Nepal.

It's time. Time to support Nepal's rehabilitation! An exciting opportunity to support an holistic development project in remote Nepal. The project incorporates a wide range of technologies so whatever your skill, there is probably something you can help with.....

More info: Link 1 and Link 2

Anyone trekking to Mount Kailash from the Nepal side will probably walk through Tulin, a small village of some 250 Humlis about three hours from Simikot airport in far northwestern Nepal.

More info