2022
Comparative life cycle assessment of conventional combustion engine vehicle, battery electric vehicle and fuel cell electric vehicle in Nepal
Journal of Cleaner Production · Vol. 379, Article 134407
Research interests
I1
Energy efficient buildings
Thermal comfort, indoor air quality and building energy performance across Nepal's climatic zones, aimed at locally derived reference values rather than imported comfort models. Feeds energy efficiency provisions in the National Building Code.
I2
Energy systems optimisation & modelling
Numerical modelling for grid integration, optimisation and control, including microgrid sizing for community and rural supply. The modelling side of nearly every ESTRL programme runs through this work.
I3
Sustainable energy policy & strategy
Reading measurement evidence back against the instruments meant to act on it: building code energy efficiency, indoor environment policy and electric vehicle policy in Nepal.
I4
Smart grid & storage integration
Battery energy storage sizing and the reuse of retired electric vehicle packs in stationary applications, tested on the laboratory's cyclers, BMS development kits and thermal chambers.
I5
Life cycle assessment of energy systems
Cradle-to-grave assessment of energy technologies under Nepal's hydro-dominated electricity mix — the basis of the 2022 Journal of Cleaner Production comparison of combustion, battery electric and fuel cell vehicles.
Academic background
Trained in mechanical engineering across all three degrees, beginning at Kathmandu University — the institution he now leads — and completing a doctorate at The University of Auckland.
| Degree | Institution |
|---|---|
| PhD, Mechanical Engineering | The University of Auckland |
| MSc, Mechanical Engineering | Institute of Engineering |
| BE, Mechanical Engineering | Kathmandu University |
Selected publications
2022
Measures to resolve range anxiety in electric vehicle users
International Journal of Low-Carbon Technologies · Vol. 17, pp. 1186-1206
2009
Dynamics of PM2.5 concentrations in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
Journal of Hazardous Materials · Vol. 168, Issue 2-3, pp. 732-738
2005
Estimation of petrol and diesel adulteration with kerosene and assessment of usefulness of selected automobile fuel quality test parameters
International Journal of Environmental Science & Technology · Vol. 1, Issue 4, pp. 253-255
ESTRL leadership
Prof. Baral serves as founding Principal Investigator of the Energy Systems & Technology Research Laboratory, alongside his post in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and his role as Vice Chancellor of Kathmandu University.
01
Funded programmes
Six active or recently completed programmes run under his direction, supported by EnergizeNepal (NORAD) and the Swedish Research Council — covering electric cooking, electric transportation, thermal comfort and indoor air quality, energy policy review, and the Solar Food Himalaya programmes. See the portfolio.
02
Supervision
More than twenty graduate students have been mentored at the laboratory, with thesis work attached to funded programmes so that degree and deliverable advance together. Former members have gone on to doctoral study in the United States and Europe. Meet the team.
03
Partnerships
Institutional collaboration with Lund University, CST Bhutan and the EnergizeNepal programme, and co-design of projects with utilities, startups and ministries so research reaches practice. More on the laboratory.
Academic contributions
Prof. Baral has supervised PhD and MSc theses in sustainable energy and system optimisation. He collaborates with international universities and organisations on clean energy transitions, and his work has been supported by research grants and presented at international conferences.