Harnessing solar energy in Nepal: financial viability and barriers to adoption | Renewable Energy and Environmental Sustainability

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Table 1

Solar energy adoption across urban, rural, and remote areas.

Area type	Avg solar radiation (kWh/m²/ day)	Estimated solar potential (MW)	Current solar installations (MW)	Household adoption rate (%)	Avg installation cost (NPR)	Payback period (Years)
Urban	4.5–5.5	500	50	20	158,000.00 − 198,000.00	5–7
Rural	4.0–5.0	1,000	30	15	132,000.00 − 172,000.00	6–8
Remote	3.5–4.5	600	10	10	19,000.00 − 158,00.00	7–9

Note: All monetary values in this study are expressed in Nepalese Rupees (NPR). For international reference, the exchange rate used is approximately 1 USD&9552;NPR 132 (average rate, 2024).

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