What the laboratory is for
Advance energy systems research, technology development and training that strengthen Nepal's energy security and support global climate goals.
Be a reference laboratory for sustainable energy systems in South Asia, known for careful science and open collaboration.
- Integrity in research
- Safety and quality
- Open science and collaboration
- Equity, inclusion and mentorship
At a glance
Who leads the work
Prof. Bivek Baral
Vice Chancellor, Kathmandu University
Principal Investigator, ESTRL
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kathmandu University
Instrumentation
Research spaces and calibrated equipment for experimental and computational work in energy systems.
Power systems bench
Inverters, converters and programmable loads for microgrid prototyping.
Battery testing suite
Cyclers, BMS development kits and thermal chambers for storage studies.
Modelling & simulation
Numerical modelling for grid integration, optimisation and control.
Milestones
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2018 |
ESTRL founded
Established to accelerate applied research in energy systems at Kathmandu University. |
| 2021 |
First international grant
The lab won competitive funding for rural microgrid optimisation. |
| 2023 |
Battery research expansion
The lab commissioned a battery testing suite and a data acquisition stack. |
| 2025 |
Regional collaboration hub
The lab formalised partnerships with South Asian universities and industry. |
Collaborators
Kathmandu University
CST Bhutan
EnergizeNepal
Lund University
Safety and research ethics
We keep safety protocols and ethics standards for all experiments, field deployments and studies involving people.
- Mandatory safety induction and PPE compliance
- Equipment logs and calibration records
- Data management and reproducibility practices
- Ethics approvals for human and field studies
How can students join ESTRL?
Apply through your department and indicate interest in ESTRL. Openings are also posted on the KU notice board and lab channels.
Do you collaborate with industry and government?
Yes. We co-design projects with utilities, startups and ministries to translate research into practice.
Can external researchers use the facilities?
Facility access is available by request and MoU. Contact us with a short proposal; lab access, safety induction and data policy documents are issued on request.
Work with us
Whether you are a student, faculty member or industry partner, we welcome collaboration on sustainable energy for Nepal.