Nepal, Nov. 15 -- As Nepal accelerates its transition towards a sustainable and resilient energy future, public debate continues to centre on electricity generation and distribution. The narrative is natural: Nepal has made remarkable progress in hydropower development, cross-border electricity trade is expanding, and solar photovoltaics are emerging as a complementary clean power source. Yet, a critical element of our energy picture that remains overlooked is solar thermal energy, mainly for heating and cooling.

Heating and cooling account for nearly half of global final energy consumption, and Nepal's energy profile also reflects the same trend. Whether heating water in homes, supporting tourism infrastructure in mountain regions, disi...