Kathmandu: A new study by Kathmandu University (KU) has revealed a steep nationwide decline in Nepal’s household biogas programme, with more than half of the systems surveyed found abandoned and non-functional. The findings raise alarm about the future of a technology once hailed as a cornerstone of the country’s clean-energy transition, reports The Rising Nepal.
The assessment, conducted by KU’s Renewable and Sustainable Energy Laboratory (RSEL) across 10 districts, shows widespread technical failures, neglected maintenance, and shifting rural livelihoods have left thousands of subsidised biogas plants idle. Researchers warn the collapse of these systems undermines Nepal’s 2045 net-zero target and turns a long-promoted sector into one of the country’s largest pools of stranded public investment.
In Tanahu district—one of the early adopters of household biogas—the decline is particularly stark. Field teams found digesters split by cracks, jammed mixers, and corroded pipelines in settlements where biogas once thrived. At least 59% of the units inspected there were no longer functioning, the highest failure rate among the districts studied. The pattern, researchers say, is mirrored across much of the country.
Across all 10 districts, 54% of the 2,559 biogas plants surveyed were non-operational, translating to roughly 1,380 abandoned systems. At an average installation cost of Rs. 80,000 per plant, this represents more than Rs. 110 million in wasted infrastructure in the sample alone. With nearly 450,000 household biogas systems installed nationwide—almost all subsidised—similar failure rates would indicate national losses running into tens of billions of rupees.
“What was meant to be a durable, subsidy-backed clean-energy asset is instead becoming one of Nepal’s largest stores of stranded public investment,” the study notes.
Lead author Prof. Sunil Prasad Lohani emphasised the urgency of the findings. “This study reveals major challenges in Nepal’s biogas sector and underscores the need for transparent subsidies, expert involvement, and strong local service networks. Without urgent interventions and systemic reforms, Nepal’s biogas sector will collapse, and its role as a sustainable cooking solution will diminish.”
Co-author Poushan Shrestha added that households once proud adopters of biogas now express deep frustration. Persistent low gas production, coupled with the near absence of repair services, has eroded public trust and pushed families back to firewood and LPG.
Technical breakdowns remain the primary cause of abandonment. According to researchers, many systems could be revived with simple repairs, but the lack of local technicians and spare parts makes restoration difficult.
Prof. Marc Jeuland of Duke University, also a co-author, said Nepal’s experience mirrors global challenges. “Well-built systems are very high in cost, and the quest for affordability has sometimes led to compromises on quality. The problems that follow often prove difficult to overcome.”
Demographic shifts are compounding the issue. Youth migration, shrinking household size, and declining livestock numbers have weakened the traditional model of biogas production—14% of households surveyed lacked sufficient manure to run their systems. Larger families are more likely to sustain biogas operations, while smaller, aging households struggle.
The study also points to structural gaps in programme design. Heavy reliance on upfront subsidies prioritised rapid installation over long-term performance. Despite earning several million dollars from Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) carbon credits, reinvestment in monitoring, maintenance, and after-sales service has been minimal.
As a result of widespread system failures, households have been forced to spend an estimated $5.2 million annually on LPG and have collectively emitted around 0.66 million tonnes of CO₂ through increased firewood use.
