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The worldwide shift toward decarbonization has made green hydrogen an essential energy carrier to transition to a sustainable world. Green hydrogen, as a multi-purpose, zero-emission fuel that is generated with renewable electricity, has a massive potential in solving climate problems in areas where direct electrification is difficult. Nevertheless, mass implementation of hydrogen technology is experiencing one main challenge: hydrogen storage. In contrast to conventional fuels, hydrogen is unique with regard to storage due to its low volumetric energy density (8 MJ/L for liquid hydrogen, 5.6 MJ/L for compressed hydrogen gas at 700 bar pressure, compared to 32 MJ/L for gasoline under ambient conditions), high diffusivity and compatibility issues with materials. This article examines the techno-economics of hydrogen storage technologies, considering their prices, efficiencies, scalability possibilities and their best uses in a developing green hydrogen economy.

Storage technologies

Hydrogen storage technologies are a wide and developing field, where every technology has its own technical characteristics and economic consequences. There are various types of hydrogen storage, and all the methods have their own merits and demerits.

Gaseous storage

Compressed hydrogen is stored in a high-pressure tank at 350-700 bar. The tanks are usually made of carbon fiber composites, aluminum alloys or steel, which are durable and strong. Compressed hydrogen has storage densities of ~23-42 kg H2/m3. The storage cost of compressed hydrogen varies between $16-20 per kg of hydrogen, and the capital cost of a compressed hydrogen tank is about $500-1000 per kg H2 storage capacity at 700-bar systems. The storage duration is long-term, but hydrogen can be lost to permeation at a rate of 0.1-1 percent per day. The compression process alone uses 10-15 percent of the energy stored in hydrogen, and therefore, energy efficiency is an issue. This method is most frequently used in the hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), industrial gas supply and refueling stations. The major factors are the high cost of storage, the possible leakage of gases and the need for constant refueling since the energy density of gaseous hydrogen storage is lower than that of liquid or solid-state hydrogen storage.

Liquid hydrogen storage

Liquid hydrogen storage involves cooling hydrogen to -253 °C and storing it in stainless steel cryogenic tanks with vacuum insulation to reduce the rate of heat transfer. The storage density of this method is much greater (70.8 kg H2/m3) than that of compressed gas storage. The process of liquefaction is, however, energy-intensive and consumes 30-35 percent of the energy content of the hydrogen stored. Liquid hydrogen storage costs $12-15 per kg of hydrogen, and the capital costs of the cryogenic storage tanks are relatively expensive at $1,000-3,000 per kg H2 capacity. Its storage life is medium-term, and boil-off loss is about 0.1-1 percent per day; thus, it is not suitable for long-term storage. This is applied mainly in aerospace (rocket fuel), hydrogen refueling stations and in some transport systems. The major concerns involved are the high energy needed in liquefaction, stringent insulation and boil-off losses.

Metal hydride storage

Metal hydride storage makes use of metal alloys where the hydrogen is chemically bound under moderate pressures of 1-10 bar and temperatures of 200-400 °C. Typical hydride-forming materials are magnesium hydride (MgH2), titanium-based alloys and lanthanum-nickel (LaNi5). This technique has an extremely high storage density of 40-120 kg H2/m3, which is far more than that of compressed or liquid hydrogen storage. The cost is, however, very high, the storage cost being $50-150 per kg of hydrogen, and the capital cost between $1500-4000 per kg H2 capacity, depending on the metal alloy used. The storage time is high since hydrogen is stored chemically and will not leak as it does with gaseous or liquid hydrogen. There is the issue of energy usage, where heat is necessary to release hydrogen and it uses up 5-10 percent of the stored hydrogen energy. It is a common form of storage in stationary energy storage systems, submarines and portable hydrogen fuel cells. The factors to be considered are high weight of the system, slow rate of hydrogen release and high cost of special metal alloys.

LOHCs

Liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) represent a safe, stable and economical method of storing hydrogen at ambient temperature and pressure through encapsulation in an organic liquid like dibenzyl toluene. The storage density of this method is about 57 kg H2/m3 which makes it competitive with compressed gas storage. The storage rate is comparatively cheap at $5-8 per kg of hydrogen, whereas capital costs vary between $500-1,500 per kg H2 capacity. The storage time is unlimited, as hydrogen remains chemically attached to the liquid carrier until usage. But this involves catalytic hydrogenation and dehydrogenation at temperatures of 150-300 °C, and this makes the process more complex in operation and requires extra energy. LOHCs are primarily applied in long-range hydrogen delivery and in stationary hydrogen storage. The factors to be considered are specialized reactors, increased complexity in the production of hydrogen and comparatively lower rates of hydrogen release compared to gaseous or liquid storage.

Cavern storage

Salt caverns, depleted natural gas fields or aquifers can be used to provide large-scale hydrogen storage, enabling cost-effective and high-capacity storage. Each location has the potential to store 100,000 tons of hydrogen, which makes it one of the most viable ways of storing large quantities of hydrogen. The low-cost storage has been as little as $0.1-1/kg hydrogen, and the capital cost as little as $1-10/kg H2 capacity, depending on the geological formation exploited. There is no time limit on storage, and there is very little loss of hydrogen. The energy cost of injecting hydrogen and retrieving it is also very low (~1-2 percent of the energy stored). This technique is mainly utilized in grid-scale energy storage, industrial hydrogen supply and renewable energy integration. But it is constrained by geological feasibility, which demands particular underground structures and is also expensive to initially invest in the infrastructure.

Cutting-edge advancements

New hydrogen storage methodologies are also fast maturing, enabling the world to use hydrogen safely, more efficiently and at a large scale. The 700-bar carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) tanks developed by Toyota are an established high-pressure gas system with 5.7 wt percent gravimetric and 40 kg/m3 volumetric storage capacity, advanced multi-layer safety, and real-time monitoring at a price of ~$150,00 per tank system. The cryo-compressed hydrogen (CcH2) technology developed by NASA and BMW presents a cryogenic cooling of -253 °C combined with 350-bar compression to a density of 65 kg/m³ and energy densities 50 percent more than gaseous systems, with vacuum-insulated vessels and active pressure control with ~$20/kg H2 capacity. The NU-1501 MOF developed by Berkeley Lab offers 14.4 wt percent and 67 kg/m3 storage capacity at 77K and 100 bar with good thermal stability and an estimated cost of $50/kg at scale due to its ultrahigh porosity. GKN Hydrogen’s HY2MEDI metal hydride system has 6.5 wt percent, 105 kg/m3, and nano-enhanced magnesium hydrides with passive cooling, 85 percent energy efficiency and a cost of $3000/kg H2. The storage of hydrogen in the form of LOHC technology developed by Hydrogenious’ has a storage capacity of 57 kg/m3 in a safe, ambient, non-explosive liquid form with a long shelf life, and the cost of storage is $3.48–5.8/kg. HyStock has a salt cavern-based storage facility in the Netherlands with underground capacity of 5,400 tons H2 per cavern at a price of $0.41/kg with both micro seismic monitoring and brine curtain systems, which is ideal for storing seasonal and grid-scale storage.

Toward a sustainable future

According to Nepal’s latest Energy Roadmap, the country is estimated to generate 28,500 MW of electricity by 2035. With domestic demand forecasted at just 7,589 MW, Nepal could have a surplus generation capacity of approximately 20,919 MW after domestic consumption and export commitments. If this surplus remains unutilized, it could result in an annual loss of trillions of Nepali rupees. But through the production of green hydrogen by converting the excess power into this fuel, and storing it, Nepal will be able to turn this possible loss into a good economic opportunity. Given that 1 MWh produces 20 kg of hydrogen, the country will be able to produce more than 2.2bn kg of hydrogen every year. There are different storage technologies, including high-pressure tanks, cryo-compressed systems, metal hydrides and LOHCs, that have various benefits regarding capacity, safety and cost. In Nepal’s context, whose infrastructure is still developing, the average price of storing hydrogen using these approaches is Rs 250/kg. This makes the complete cost of storage per year Rs 549bn. This, combined with the cost of electrolysis, results in a total investment of 

Rs 1.28trn/year. Upon re-electrification during dry seasons, where imported electricity costs 

Rs 16/unit, this hydrogen could generate electricity worth Rs 1.17trn, resulting in a net annual loss of Rs 114.78bn under current economic conditions.

However, this apparent loss must be seen through the lens of a circular economy. Although the financial outcome of the process seems to be negative at the moment, the internal economic value of the process is preserved by the fact that the country does not have to import expensive electricity in the dry season. Instead of losing money out of the national economy, it flows within the country in the form of local production and use of hydrogen. Moreover, the high initial infrastructure investment and technological immaturity are justified when considering the strategic role of hydrogen as a fallback mechanism. In case of any unavoidable circumstances, Nepal cannot export its surplus electricity, may be because of limitations of regional grid, due to geopolitical reasons or may be due to fluctuations in the demand, under such circumstances, hydrogen production and storage can be the only possible solution, which can prevent the total wastage of energy produced. This will make sure that even otherwise stranded zero-cost electricity will be monetized in terms of real economic goods.

Recognizing this potential, the government has already taken key policy steps, exempting income tax and customs duties on hydrogen-related equipment. However, additional incentives, subsidies and regulatory frameworks are necessary to make hydrogen one of the enablers of national energy security and economic resilience. With global hydrogen prices projected to fall below $1/kg by 2050, Nepal’s strategic transition, from high-pressure cylinders to advanced LOHCs and metal hydrides, will enable cost-effective and large-scale storage. This roadmap positions Nepal to transform surplus hydropower into a multi-billion-rupee green hydrogen economy, ensuring grid stability, energy independence and regional leadership in clean energy development.

After much delay and several twists and turns, Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) finally got a new governor, Biswo Poudel, about a month ago. There was a 46-day gap between the retirement of the previous governor and the appointment of his successor. Although the appointment came late, the central bank has now secured a well-qualified leader. Poudel is a respected economist with deep knowledge of Nepal’s economic history and the foresight to prepare for the future, making him a fitting choice to lead the central bank of the country at this critical time.

Poudel possesses a deep understanding of Nepal’s geography, cultural dynamics, social structure and the foundations of national development. He is well-versed in national planning, business, economics and the broader financial and economic landscape. 

The governor brings with him a wealth of experience and experience, having already served as vice-chairperson of the National Planning Commission, senior economic advisor to the Ministry of Finance and chair of the Board of Governors at ICIMOD, adviser to the International Labour Organization (ILO), led regional forums under the Colombo Plan and UNESCAP, and published research articles in several international economic journals. At the time of appointment as the governor, Poudel was a visiting associate professor at the Kathmandu University School of Management.

His academic and professional expertise spans natural resource economics, labour markets and economic history—areas closely aligned with Nepal’s long-term development priorities.

Over the years, he has closely studied monetary policies and the functioning of banks and financial institutions (BFIs). The business community, economic stakeholders, the stock market and other financial sectors have welcomed his appointment.

A former Minister of State for Finance and economist, Udaya Shumsher Rana, remarked that since the appointment of the new governor, all eyes are on the central bank, with its new leadership appearing more influential than even the Ministry of Finance.

Widespread optimism following his appointment suggests a hopeful outlook for the country’s economic progress in the days to come.

If this momentum continues, Poudel’s five-year tenure is likely to have a positive and lasting impact on the national economy.

This is an important and encouraging development for the public, as key aspects of the economy—such as controlling inflation, ensuring stable and positive economic activity, generating employment, keeping industries running smoothly and fostering a harmonious relationship between banks and the business community—largely depend on the leadership of the NRB. With Poudel at the helm, there is a sense of optimism and satisfaction among all concerned, at a time when the private sector, BFIs and the broader economic landscape are facing numerous challenges.

Businesses and industries have been struggling to recover fully since 2019, when a Covid-19 pandemic hit the country and consigned its economy to sickbed. Against this backdrop, the NRB leadership must prioritize the revival of these sectors and focus on correcting structural economic imbalances. This is what the country needs—and what the people expect.

The country faces a multitude of economic challenges. The central bank had long been in need of a capable scholar, who could address these pressing issues with expertise and vision. Economic recovery cannot be achieved through rhetoric alone; it demands strong leadership, a positive mindset and dedicated effort. Governor Poudel is surely aware of this reality. With the support of NRB’s competent team, let’s hope, he manages to work diligently toward the nation’s economic development and progress.

The author, a member of the Supreme Court Bar, has been practicing corporate law for around three decades

Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States and drafter of the Declaration of Independence, once said: “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”  More than two centuries later, Jefferson’s words resonate even more deeply.

They underscore the paramount importance of press freedom in any democratic society.  In Nepal’s context, it is worth recalling Nepali Congress (NC) founding leader BP Koirala’s understanding of media freedom.  It is widely reported that Koirala welcomed journalists of all political and ideological stripes and even encouraged them to write critically about his own government.  This article explores the two broad dimensions of Nepal’s current media landscape: the growing threats to the media industry and why safeguarding press freedom is more urgent than ever.

Nepali media is confronting a multitude of threats, from political repression and physical attacks to shrinking revenues and rising disinformation. These are not isolated incidents but part of a growing pattern. Unfortunately, the society and many politicians continue to treat press freedom as a concern of the media fraternity alone. This is a dangerous misconception. When media freedom deteriorates, it affects not just journalists but the functioning of all domestic institutions.

The executive, legislature, judiciary and even international stakeholders should be alarmed by the decline in press freedom because it ultimately erodes public trust, transparency and accountability. Democracy and media freedom are symbiotic; one cannot survive without the other. Protecting media freedom has become more important today than ever due to democratic backsliding, digital autocracy, the spread of disinformation, geopolitical tensions and the global rise of authoritarian populism. 

From Europe to Africa and Asia, populist leaders are attacking the media. Populism thrives on emotion, lies, fake nationalism, anti-immigration rhetoric, attack on the state institutions and discrediting the mainstream independent media. As a recent study by the Reuters Institute stated, populist politicians around the world are increasingly able to bypass traditional journalism in favor of the friendly partisan media, personalities and influences who often get special access but rarely ask difficult questions, with many implicated in spreading false narrative or worse.

V cv In Nepal, the dual pressure from state and non-state actors are steadily weakening independent media. In the name of regulation, politicians are introducing restrictive laws designed to limit media freedom.  In several instances, politicians are discrediting traditional media for not aligning with their agendas. At the same time, advertising revenues are drying up with both audiences and advertisers migrating to digital platforms. This shift has left mainstream media struggling to sustain high-quality journalism. The situation is worsened by corporate interests, which often seek to undermine critical reporting that expose malpractices of the business houses. 

The Reuters Institute report states that engagement with traditional media sources such as TV, print and news websites continue to fall, while dependence on social media, video platforms and online aggregators is growing. Disinformation is another major challenge that Nepal’s media industry is struggling with. Malicious actors are not only spreading fake news to discredit independent media but also flooding the digital space with misleading content that confuses the people.

This is ultimately eroding people’s trust in journalism. Independent media is not only battling disinformation aimed at undermining their credibility but also bearing the crucial responsibility of combating the falsehoods that threaten society at large.

In the name of regulating social media, the government is introducing tighter laws, which have put it on a collision course with the media. People in the government are applying the same framework to traditional media (print, radio and television) as they do to online platforms and social media, despite their fundamentally different natures. Today, as democracy faces unprecedented challenges, the need for an independent and vibrant media has never been more urgent. 

Like elsewhere, people’s trust and confidence in democracy is dwindling, which is a cause for concern. From federal to local level, there are growing incidents of abuse of power by the elected representatives as well as bureaucrats. To hold them accountable, journalists must be allowed to work in an environment free from violence, threats and political interference. The state should support investigative journalism, not suppress it.  

Corruption, meanwhile, poses perhaps the greatest internal threat to Nepal’s democracy because it is wrecking the integrity, professionalism and image of the state institutions. Only an empowered media can investigate and expose such malpractices. However, journalists doing investigative stories are facing intimidation. The growing disinformation has emerged as a risk factor everywhere including in Nepal. 

A limited number of fact-checking organizations cannot tackle the problem of this magnitude, given their limited reach, resource and impact. In countries where the media’s economic health is sound, independent media are doing the fast-checking works. In our cases, big media houses are yet to work out a solution to stop a large-scale disinformation campaign.

The business sector has become both a victim and perpetrator of disinformation. Honest enterprises are being hurt by misleading narratives, while others are trying to discredit the media to protest their own unethical practices. Only a free and independent press can serve the larger interests of the business community by circulating accurate, credible information and promoting transparency in the market. 

Climate change, one of the most urgent global challenges, is also tightly connected to democracy which affects the economy, further contributes to inequality, leads to political instability and undermines people’s trust in the government.

Protecting natural resources and ensuring their responsible use is critical for both environmental sustainability and democratic governance. Here too, the media can play a vital role. Investigative reporting is crucial in holding those degrading the environment accountable and in pressuring governments to act responsibly. However, journalists covering climate issues are facing threats and safety concerns.  Efforts to combat the climate crisis will not be effective without a free press.

In conclusion, Nepal urgently needs a vibrant independent and fearless media to protect and strengthen its democracy. But, the worrying factor is political parties and their leaders. They once fought for democracy and press freedom, but are now trying to curtail it. They must remember a weakened media leads to a weakened democracy. Press freedom is not a favor to journalists, it is a necessary investment in the health of our democratic future. 

Nepali youths want to carve out a distinct identity of the country—other than that of the land of brave warriors—particularly in the field of information and communications technology (ICT).

Is the government ready to create a supportive environment for the realization of this mission?

This unanswered question sits uncomfortably among young dreamers, innovators and inventors at a time when a body of research has shown that the coming decades will be the age of Asia.
According to a report from the McKinsey Global Institute (2019), Asia, home to more than half of the world’s middle-class population, already accounts for over 50 percent of global GDP growth while the Asian Development Bank (ADB, 2023) forecasts that Asia-Pacific's sustained growth, driven by trade, technology and urbanization, will continue to reshape global power balances.
Located between two global economic powerhouses—China and India—Nepal has “great prospects” for economic collaboration and development lying ahead.  

Though it sounds a bit cliched, the government and other stakeholders should have an unwavering focus on ways to reap “benefits” from the two large markets.

Today’s youths dream of transforming Nepal, a member of the grouping of low-income countries, into a middle-income country (at least in a few years). Make no mistake: they are dreaming with eyes wide open, with a sense of eagerness and mission, and they are working quite hard to fulfill it.

Sprouting start-ups, firms and product/service enhancement facilities, especially in the field of ICT, are a living proof of their commitment to the mission. 
At a time when, according to reports, around 2,000 youths are leaving the country daily, growing businesses like these offer a glimmer of hope.

This begs a key question: Is the government really ready to accept, encourage, promote and develop this bubble of hope?

Action speaks louder than words, doesn’t it?

Thus far this year, the parliament has passed some important bills to promote youth enterprises such as the Bill to Amend Some Nepal Acts Related to Good Governance Promotion and Public Service Delivery (Amendment), 2024; Cooperatives Bill, 2024; Economic Procedure and Financial Responsibility (First Amendment) Bill, 2024; Privatization (First Amendment) Bill 2024 and Improvement of the Economic and Business Environment and Investment Promotion Bill, 2024, bringing cheers from the private sector and other stakeholders.

The recently-published fiscal policy of the government appears to be a small step in the right direction and let’s hope that the monetary policy will also power the start-ups and help give the gig economy a boost through measures like favorable interest rates.
Still, the roadblocks remain on this path with several studies and research papers highlighting the ambiguities and hurdles in policies, bills and articles related to business operations in Nepal.

What is the way out, then?  
Instead of bulky policies and controlling bills, relevant government authorities can create simple, easy and supervisory bills to remove these obstructions. 
And how about introducing start-up friendly policies, which can create a favorable business environment by opening the door for many opportunities within the country.
Michael Porter rightly says: Innovation is the central issue in economic prosperity.

It is a given that invention and innovation are the only tools that can leapfrog the economy.

Looking back into the global growth and development trajectory, one finds that every developed country has almost the same story: They all began with invention and innovation in commodities, and achieved a competitive advantage in the international market. South Korea, Singapore, India, Bangladesh and Sweden are doing extremely well on this front, especially over the decade. Make no mistake: these two i-terms—invention and innovation—aren’t accidental things. Rather, they are the result of consistent efforts of many minds and hands.
There’s no reason why Nepali youths cannot achieve this feat and take the country to a new era—with a little help from all stakeholders, the government in particular.