Powering Nepal's sustainable energy future
The Solar Power Producers' Association, Nepal (SOPPAN) is Nepal's foremost professional association of independent solar power producers. Formally registered with the Government of Nepal on January, 2023, SOPPAN serves as the collective voice of grid-connected solar Independent Power Producers (IPPs) operating across Nepal.
SOPPAN brings together developers, investors, and operators who are collectively driving Nepal's transition toward a cleaner, more resilient, and energy-secure future.
SOPPAN members have collectively invested over NPR 21 billion (USD 150 million+) in solar assets and are actively developing approximately 960–1,000 MW of additional solar capacity. This represents one of the single largest private-sector investment pipelines in Nepal's renewable energy history, with an additional NPR 210 billion (USD 1.5 billion) expected to flow into the sector over the next three years.
Nepal's electricity system has long been anchored by hydropower, which supplies over 95 percent of grid energy. While hydropower is a national strength, it is increasingly vulnerable to climate-driven disruptions — floods, landslides, Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), and seasonal variability during dry months. Recognizing that solar energy could complement and diversify the national grid, a group of visionary solar entrepreneurs came together to establish SOPPAN.
Since our founding, SOPPAN has worked constructively with the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation (MoEWRI), Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC), the Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA), and parliamentary committees to create a policy and regulatory environment that enables solar power to thrive. From advocating for fair insurance premium rates to pushing for longer PPA durations, from championing VAT equity to proposing open access frameworks — SOPPAN has been at the forefront of every major solar policy reform debate in Nepal.
Our Purpose
Our Vision
A solar-powered Nepal, energy-secure, climate-resilient, and prosperous, where clean solar electricity drives economic growth, eradicates energy poverty, and cements Nepal's position as a regional leader in renewable energy.
Our Mission
To champion the growth of solar power in Nepal by uniting solar IPPs, advocating for a fair and enabling regulatory environment, promoting investment and technological excellence, and accelerating Nepal's transition to a clean, affordable, and energy-secure future.
What we work toward
SOPPAN pursues the following core objectives to fulfil its mission:
Advocate for solar-friendly legislation, directives, and regulations — including a fair PPA framework, extended generation licenses (up to 50 years), removal of the 10% solar cap, and consistent EIA/IEE thresholds aligned with hydropower standards.
Secure equitable financial treatment for solar IPPs, including: VAT parity with hydropower for all project components; revision of PD and LOP insurance premiums to reflect solar PV's lower risk profile (targeting PD 0.15% of CAPEX and LOP 0.20% of annual revenue); and annual tariff escalation provisions in PPAs.
Ensure transparent, timely, and fair access to the national grid; promote the development of an Open Access framework that allows solar IPPs to trade power directly with commercial & industrial consumers; and push for NEA to expand substation and transmission capacity ahead of solar auctions.
Drive the adoption of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) as an integral element of new solar projects; promote technology upgrade flexibility in licensing; and advance hybrid solar-hydro models that optimize grid stability and seasonal energy balance.
Provide members with timely policy updates, technical guidance, regulatory compliance support, and a platform for networking and collective problem-solving. Facilitate knowledge exchange with international solar industry leaders and development partners.
Position Nepal's solar sector as a premier destination for ethical, high-quality private investment by championing transparency, governance, and the rule of law in energy sector dealings. Target an investment pipeline of NPR 210+ billion in the next three years.
Expand net metering and distributed generation frameworks to allow C&I rooftop installations up to 1 MW, and ensure rooftop solar producers receive 25-year PPAs with equitable tariff structures.
Support Nepal's transition from a net electricity importer to a net exporter by advocating for enabling frameworks for cross-border power trade, open access for private sector participants, and structured bilateral electricity agreements with India and other neighbors.
Contribute to Nepal's climate commitments — net-zero by 2045, and alignment with Sustainable Development Goals 7 (Affordable & Clean Energy), 13 (Climate Action), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) — through accelerated solar deployment.
Advocate for immediate conclusion of PPAs for the 960 MW pipeline under active development, and the early announcement of the next auction round of at least 1,000 MW of new solar capacity.
Our leadership
