GRIPS is an Innovation project led by Swanbarton in partnership with Gham Power, Practical Action Consulting, HiT Power Limited and Scene Connect to improve access to clean, reliable energy in Nepal. Improving electricity supply reliability and increasing renewable generation penetration will both reduce pollution and support economic growth. Gham Power installed an integrated solar PV and dual chemistry battery power supply system on a site in the Kathmandu Valley to trial innovative new power control and monitoring systems, Swanbarton provided innovative battery control technology and HiT Power Limited provided an advanced switch and a seamless grid-forming power conversion system.
Scene Connect developed and provided an advanced distribution network monitoring system to identify periods of network stress that might result in an outage. The system uses consumer premise voltage measurement as proxy for distribution network measurements. The NEA will support this work by enabling measurements at the local sub-station. Conventional telemetry in the distribution network would be impracticable due to poor communications, poor mains power access and weatherproofing challenges.