--- title: "Replacing fossil fuel with non-conventional energy" subject: "Power Plant Design" chapter: 1 key: "semester_8/power_plant_design:energy-sources-replace-fossil" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/power_plant_design/energy-sources-replace-fossil site: BCT Engineering --- # Replacing fossil fuel with non-conventional energy Power Plant Design · Chapter 1: Energy Sources and Electric Power Generation - Asked in: 2075 Bhadra, 6 marks - Video: [Can We Make Electricity Without Fossil Fuels?: Crash Course Climate & Energy #3](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT7vRUGeEtA) — CrashCourse - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/power_plant_design/energy-sources-replace-fossil - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/power_plant_design/chapter-1 ## Question What are the conventional and non conventional energy sources? How the fossil fuel can be replaced by non-conventional energy in Nepal? ## Short answer Conventional sources include fossil fuels and large hydro; non-conventional are renewables like solar, wind, biogas. In Nepal, fossil fuels can be replaced by using surplus hydropower for electric cooking and vehicles, promoting biogas and improved stoves, deploying solar pumps and micro-hydro, and supporting rural renewable programs. ## Answer **Conventional energy sources** are those that have been used widely for a long time and are mostly non-renewable or traditional: coal, petroleum, natural gas, large hydropower, nuclear and traditional biomass (firewood). **Non-conventional sources** are new, mostly renewable alternatives: solar, wind, micro hydro, biogas, modern biomass, geothermal, tidal and hydrogen. #### Fossil fuel use in Nepal Nepal has no proven oil or gas reserves, so all petroleum products (diesel, petrol, LPG, kerosene) and most coal are imported. They are used mainly in **transport, cooking (LPG), industry and diesel generators**. This causes a large trade deficit and pollution. #### How fossil fuel can be replaced | Use | Fossil fuel now | Replacement | |---|---|---| | Cooking | LPG, kerosene | Electric induction stoves (hydro), biogas, improved stoves | | Transport | Diesel, petrol | Electric vehicles, electric buses, cable cars, electric railway | | Industry heating | Coal, furnace oil | Electric boilers, biomass briquettes, rice husk gasifiers | | Lighting (remote) | Kerosene | Solar home systems, micro hydro | | Diesel generators | Diesel | Grid hydro, solar–battery, solar–wind hybrid | | Irrigation pumps | Diesel | Solar water pumps, grid pumps | | Water heating | LPG/electric | Solar water heaters | #### Strategies 1. **Use surplus hydropower** – especially wet-season surplus for EVs and electric cooking, with grid expansion and reliable distribution. 2. **Promote EVs** – lower import duty on EVs and more charging stations; Nepal has already seen fast growth in EV imports. 3. **Rural renewable programmes** – AEPC subsidies for solar, biogas, micro hydro and improved cooking stoves. 4. **Green hydrogen** – produced from surplus hydro in the future, to make fertiliser locally and replace industrial fuel. 5. **Policy** – carbon tax on fossil fuel, net metering for rooftop solar, energy efficiency standards. These steps reduce imports, improve energy security and lower emissions. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. What is true about fossil fuels in Nepal? A. Nepal has large proven oil reserves B. All petroleum products and most coal are imported C. Nepal exports diesel D. Coal is not used Answer: B. No proven oil or gas, so imports cause a trade deficit. (Key point: Fossil fuel in Nepal) 2. Best replacement for LPG in cooking? A. Diesel stoves B. Kerosene lamps C. Coal D. Electric induction stoves from hydro, biogas, improved stoves Answer: D. Hydro electricity and biogas replace imported LPG. (Key point: Cooking replacement) 3. How can diesel and petrol in transport be replaced? A. Electric vehicles, buses, cable cars and railway B. More diesel trucks C. Kerosene engines D. Coal engines Answer: A. Surplus hydropower can power EVs. (Key point: Transport) 4. Which is a strategy? A. Subsidise fossil fuels B. Carbon tax, net metering and AEPC subsidies for renewables C. Ban solar D. Remove EV charging Answer: B. Policy plus rural renewable programmes reduce imports and emissions. (Key point: Strategies) ## Related in Power Plant Design - [Conventional, non-conventional sources and biomass](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fpower_plant_design%3Aenergy-sources-biomass) — Power Plant Design, chapter 1 - [Energy sources in Nepal and wind scope](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fpower_plant_design%3Aenergy-sources-nepal-wind) — Power Plant Design, chapter 1, asked 2× - [Energy sources and solar power generation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fpower_plant_design%3Aenergy-sources-solar-power) — Power Plant Design, chapter 1 - [Geothermal energy uses and plant types in Nepal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fpower_plant_design%3Ageothermal-use-nepal) — Power Plant Design, chapter 1 - [Electricity in Nepal's total energy need](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fpower_plant_design%3Anepal-electricity-total-energy) — Power Plant Design, chapter 1 ## Related in other subjects - [Conventional and non-conventional sources](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Aconventional-nonconventional-sources) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 2 - [Conventional vs non-conventional sources with schematic](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fpower_system_analysis_i%3Aconventional-vs-nonconventional-sources-schematic) — Power System Analysis I, chapter 1 - [Conventional sources and features of a station](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fpower_system_analysis_i%3Aconventional-sources-features) — Power System Analysis I, chapter 1 - [Conventional vs renewable energy for generation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fpower_system_analysis_i%3Aconventional-vs-renewable-generation) — Power System Analysis I, chapter 1, asked 2×