Kulekhani-I Hydroelectric Power Plant Nepal

Kulekhani-I Hydroelectric Power Plant Nepal is a 60 MW hydro power plant in Central Region, Nepal. It is operated by Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 60k homes (estimated). It ranks #5 of 14 Nepal power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1982, it is around 44 years old — long-established. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, hydro supplies about 98.8% of Nepal's electricity; the national grid averages 24 gCO₂/kWh (100.0% low-carbon) (2024).

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GEODB0040480.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000602646; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 60 MW, Kulekhani-I Hydroelectric Power Plant Nepal is well above the median hydro plant in Nepal (45 MW). Technically it is described as pumped storage. Hydropower converts the energy of falling or flowing water into electricity; output depends on rainfall and reservoir level, and large dams also provide grid balancing and storage.

Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.

Key facts

Share of Nepal hydro capacity

10.8% of 558 MW across 12 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

0 of 6 dated hydro plants in Nepal are older

Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).

Capacity vs largest hydro plants in Nepal

Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).

Owner

Operated by Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) [100%].

Local climate & thermal context

This hydro plant converts the energy of falling or flowing water through hydro turbines. It sits in a humid subtropical (dry winter) climate (Köppen Cwa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 27.6°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.

Monthly mean temperature

Heating degree-days here run 60% below the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.

Climate heat-demand index: 26/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.

Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.

Site climate & environmental severity

This site sits in a mild atmospheric environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C2 — Low), with humidity / wetness the leading environmental stress.

Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.

How it compares & nearby plants

The #5 largest hydro power plant of 12 in Nepal by capacity.

Nepal has 12 hydro power plants in this dataset, together about 558 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Kulekhani-II Hydroelectric Power Plant Nepal · Hydro · 32 MW · Central Region
• Devighat · Solar · 25 MW · Central Region
• Devighat Hydroelectric Power Plant Nepal · Hydro · 14.1 MW · Central Region
• Panauti · Solar · 5 MW · Central Region
• Trishuli Hydroelectric Power Plant Nepal · Hydro · 24 MW · Central Region
• Marsyangdi Hydroelectric Power Plant Nepal · Hydro · 69 MW · Central Region

Location

Coordinates 27.59, 85.155 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions