Center for Energy Studies (CES), Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University

What Center for Energy Studies (CES), Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University does

The Center for Energy Studies (CES) is an academic and research institution established in 1999 under the Institute of Engineering (IOE) at Tribhuvan University, located at Pulchowk Campus, Lalitpur, Nepal. It was created following a recommendation from the RETRUD-98 international conference to serve as a national hub for renewable energy research, education, and policy support. Its portfolio spans five postgraduate degree programs (MSREE, MSESPM, MSEEB, MSTIM, MSCCD), a calendar of professional training courses (Solar PV DFS, Solar Mini-Grid/Roof Top Systems, Solar Water Pumping, Energy Management with ISO 50001, Energy Auditor, Battery Storage), the EELMS e-learning platform, dedicated research facilities (National Energy Efficiency Training and Demonstration Laboratory, Zero Energy House, Energy Park, Energy Systems Planning and Analysis Unit), and the biennial RETRUD international conference series.

CES's core technical stack is domain-specialized rather than software-native: it runs energy and emissions modelling using the Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) for Nepal's long-term net-zero strategy work, and employs PVsyst, CROPWAT, and Crystal Ball for solar PV project simulation, agricultural water assessment, and feasibility risk modelling respectively. EELMS (eelms-ces.ioe.edu.np) provides an e-learning front end, but the underlying methodologies are conventional engineering and policy analytics rather than AI-driven.

Funding flows from three streams: nominal professional training course fees (NPR 5,000–15,000 per program, partially scholarship-supported by GIZ), international development grants and partnerships (DAAD via the Hi-Nepal project 2025–2028, UK Aid through TEA Platform, GIZ via POSTED/NEEP, UNDP Nepal, Erasmus+ via ALEAN/ICT-INOV/BLENDED-IDEA, APPEAR), and institutional support from the Tribhuvan University system. Customer segments span postgraduate students, government energy officials at provincial and federal levels, solar entrepreneurs and EPC company employees, NGO/INGO staff, and PhD scholars. There is no commercial revenue in the conventional sense, and CES operates as a public, grant-funded academic institution rather than a venture-backed enterprise.

Name

Center for Energy Studies (CES), Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University

Legal name

Center for Energy Studies (CES), Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University

Website

https://ces.tu.edu.np

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Center for Energy Studies is a Nepal-based academic research center under Tribhuvan University's Institute of Engineering that delivers postgraduate energy programs, professional solar PV and energy efficiency training, and policy research serving Nepal's government, students, and development partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Energy Research and Education Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEUAMANAF

Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) & Clean Energy Standards Compliance

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Renewable Energy (Solar, Wind, Hydro & Geothermal)/Policy & Regulatory Consulting for Renewables

SECONDARYEUAMABAO

Solar Workforce, Training & Safety Services (Installer Training, Certification, EHS)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Renewable Energy (Solar, Wind, Hydro & Geothermal)/Solar Energy (PV, CSP, Rooftop & Utility-Scale)

Keywords

• Renewable energy research
• Energy efficiency training
• Solar PV systems
• Energy policy consulting
• Postgraduate energy education

Headquarters

HQ city

Pulchowk, Lalitpur

HQ country

Nepal

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Professional Training Fees: CES charges course fees for professional training programs. Example: NPR 15,000 for Solar Mini Grid & Roof Top Systems training, NPR 5,000 for Energy Managers Training (with GIZ support). Scholarships are available for eligible participants.
2. Research Grants and Partnerships: CES receives funding from international development partners including DAAD for Hi-Nepal project (2025-2028), UK Aid through TEA Platform, and GIZ for various training and research initiatives.
3. Government Institutional Funding: As an institution within Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, CES receives institutional support and operates under the umbrella of the government university system.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Center for Energy Studies (CES) is an academic research institution under Tribhuvan University that delivers postgraduate academic programs (M.Sc. degrees in Renewable Energy Engineering, Energy Systems Planning and Management, Energy Efficient Building, Technology & Innovation Management, and Climate Change and Development), professional training programs on solar PV feasibility studies, solar mini-grid/rooftop implementation, solar water pumping, ISO 50001 energy management, and energy auditing, as well as research and policy advisory services. It operates specialized research and demonstration facilities including the National Energy Efficiency Training and Demonstration Laboratory, Zero Energy House, Energy Park, and the EELMS e-learning platform.

Product overview

The Center for Energy Studies (CES) operates as an academic and research institution under the Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Nepal. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio comprising five postgraduate academic programs (MSREE, MSESPM, MSEEB, MSTIM, MSCCD) developed in partnership with IOE/TU, multiple professional training programs focused on solar PV systems, energy auditing, and ISO 50001 compliance, an e-learning platform (EELMS), research facilities including the National Energy Efficiency Training and Demonstration Laboratory, Zero Energy House, and Energy Park, as well as the biennial RETRUD international conference series. The institution positions itself as a national think tank for energy policy formulation, having contributed to key strategies including Nepal's Long-Term Strategy for Net-Zero Emission, Renewable Energy Perspective Plan, and National Energy Efficiency Strategy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• M.Sc. Engineering in Renewable Energy Engineering (MSREE)
• M.Sc. Engineering in Energy Systems Planning and Management (MSESPM)
• M.Sc. in Energy Efficient Building (MSEEB)
• M.Sc. in Technology & Innovation Management (MSTIM)
• M.Sc. in Climate Change and Development (MSCCD)
• Professional Training on Detailed Feasibility Study (DFS) for Solar PV Systems

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TH Köln (Cologne University of Applied Sciences), GermanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025The Institute for Natural Resources Technology and Management (ITT), TH Köln, in collaboration with CES, is jointly implementing the Hi-Nepal project 'Higher Education Partnership for Renewable Energy Sector: Sustainable Development of Energy and Economy in Nepal' with support from DAAD. The project runs from February 2025 to December 2028, designed to strengthen academic programs and research capacities with focus on SDGs 4, 7, and 9.
• TEA-LP (Transforming Energy Access Learning Partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCES is a TEA-LP partner institution engaged in strengthening research and capacity development in sustainable energy systems. TEA-LP supports professional training programs and research fund initiatives including Energy Access & Mini-Grid Innovation Research Fund for postgraduate students.
• AEPC/GoN (Alternative Energy Promotion Centre, Government of Nepal)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCES collaborates with AEPC/GoN for professional training programs on solar projects including Solar Mini Grid, Solar Roof Top Systems, and Solar Water Pumping Systems implementation training.
• GIZ POSTEDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCES collaborates with POSTED/GIZ for developing e-learning platform and professional training programs on solar project implementation, energy efficiency, and sustainable development.
• GIZ NEEPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGIZ/NEEP supported the establishment of the National Energy Efficiency Training and Demonstration Laboratory at CES for developing qualified human resources in clean and efficient technology development and management.
• UNDP NepalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCES works with UNDP Nepal on development of Long-term Strategy for Net-Zero Emissions of Nepal, contributing to national climate change mitigation strategies and policy development.
• REEEPGREEN/GIZminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCES collaborates with REEEP/GREEN on research and information dissemination activities related to renewable energy and sustainable development.
• Erasmus+coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ supports CES in developing e-learning platform (EELMS), problem-based learning modules, and the National Energy Efficiency Training and Demonstration Laboratory through various projects including ALEAN and ICT-INOV.
• ICT-INOV ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU-funded project contributing to e-learning platform development and problem-based learning at CES.
• BLENDED-IDEA ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU-funded project supporting blended learning initiatives at CES.
• ALEAN ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ project supporting e-learning platform development at CES for professional capacity development.
• APPEAR ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPPEAR program supports the establishment of Energy Systems Planning and Analysis Unit at CES to serve as government think tank for energy and climate change policy formulation and review.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): U.S. Department of Energy national lab that combines renewable energy R&D, training, and policy advisory. A broader incumbent peer that occupies a much larger version of the niche CES occupies nationally in Nepal (research + training + policy support).
• International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA): Intergovernmental organisation supporting countries in renewable energy policy, capacity building, and analytics. IRENA's capacity-building and country-support work overlaps with CES's mandate of advising Nepal's energy policy and training renewable energy professionals.

Direct peers

• The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI): India's leading energy and sustainability research institute. TERI is a strong peer because it combines academic programs, policy advisory, training, and applied research on renewables and climate, mirroring CES's think-tank-plus-academic model in the broader South Asian energy ecosystem.
• Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC): Nepal's government apex body for renewable energy. CES co-delivers solar training with AEPC and jointly implements solar mini-grid and water pumping programs, making AEPC the closest institutional peer operating in the same renewable-energy capacity-building space in Nepal.
• Kathmandu University - Department of Mechanical Engineering / Renewable Energy Programs: Nepal's other major private university running renewable energy and energy-related postgraduate programs. It competes with CES's M.Sc. portfolio (MSREE, MSESPM, etc.) for postgraduate students and research talent in the same domestic market.

Others

• International Solar Alliance (ISA): Intergovernmental alliance promoting solar deployment with capacity-building and policy support across member countries. ISA's solar capacity-building agenda overlaps with CES's solar PV training programs and Nepal-facing energy transition advisory role.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Energy Programs: GIZ funds and co-runs several CES training programs (NEEP, POSTED) and is a peer as a donor/implementer in Nepal's renewable energy capacity-building ecosystem. It is comparable as a development-partner-driven energy training and policy advisory organization operating in the same country.
• UNDP Nepal - Energy & Climate Portfolio: UNDP partners with CES on Nepal's Long-term Strategy for Net-Zero Emissions. As a UN agency running parallel climate and energy advisory work in Nepal, UNDP is an ecosystem peer that both funds and complements CES's policy-advisory activities.

Regional players

• International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD): Regional intergovernmental research centre based in Nepal working on energy, climate, and livelihoods across the Hindu Kush Himalaya. Comparable to CES as a Nepal-anchored, donor-funded research and capacity-building body operating across South Asian mountain energy systems.
• National Energy Conservation Centre (Pakistan, ENERCON) / Bureau of Energy Efficiency (India): South Asian national energy efficiency bodies that run ISO 50001-aligned energy manager and auditor training similar to CES. They are comparable regional peers operating training and policy programs in adjacent South Asian markets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-energy-studies-ces-institute-of-engineering-tribhuvan-university

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Center for Energy Studies (CES), Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University