Manika
Nepal’s increasing demands for commuting, travel, and logistics have resulted in an increase in annual vehicle registration from 47 thousand in 2002 to 576 thousand in 2022, a 13.4% average annual growth rate. Liquid fuels derived from petroleum oil are the major source of energy in the transport sector in Nepal. 51% of the total petroleum fuel consumed in Nepal is utilized in the transport sector.
With no proven petroleum reserves, Nepal is completely dependent on imports to meet the demand for petroleum fuel, adding burden to the country’s increasing trade deficit, and raising concerns about the economic vulnerability and energy supply security. Hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles are a promising zero-emission alternative in decarbonizing the hard-to-hard-to-abate heavy-duty transportation sector by using hydrogen as a transportation fuel.
Research Area: Life-Cycle Assessment of Green Hydrogen Fuels In The Heavy-Duty Transport Sector In Nepal
Involvements:
- PhD Candidate (Dec 2022-Present)
Responsibility:
- Research on the proposed topic for the PhD
- Execution of the research findings on the proposed topic.
Research Area: Life-Cycle Assessment of Green Hydrogen Fuels In The Heavy-Duty Transport Sector In Nepal
Objectives:
- Baseline study of the energy use in the transport sector and identification of the energy transition scenarios in the heavy-duty transport sector of Nepal.
- Comparison of the economic and environmental performance of hydrogen-based technologies with battery electric vehicles, and internal combustion engines in heavy-duty vehicle fleet.
- Analysis of policy-based interventions in the life cycle and economic performance of hydrogen-fueled heavy-duty vehicle fleet.