Abstract ID: 3.11364 | Accepted as Talk | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

High-altitude electricity infrastructure in areas like Nepal’s Himalayas lacks resilience, with off-grid solar technologies frequently disrupted during disasters. These disruptions create significant challenges for disaster relief, recovery, and infrastructure restoration. This research aims to develop a self-sufficient and resilient electricity service solution specifically designed for high-mountain regions. The study examines three essential characteristics of resilience: flexibility and diversity, redundancy and modularity, and safe failure. To design a robust energy storage solution, it assesses hazards, exposure, and vulnerability to integrate resilience-building elements. It also analyzes household and institutional energy use to inform product design and evaluates post-disaster energy needs across rescue, relief, and recovery phases to ensure adequate support during crises. The prototype battery storage solution is developed using a climate resilience framework that considers system, agent, institution, and exposure dimensions and their interrelations. Lessons from the 2024 glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in Thame, a village in the Everest region of Nepal, provide real-world insights for integrating resilience measures. To reduce the cost implications of system hardening, the study employs a circular economy approach, focusing on off-grid solar power. Second-life lithium-ion batteries from EVs and laptops undergo rigorous testing and deployment to assess their viability as cost-effective and sustainable storage solutions. With a long-term sustainability perspective, the research evaluates the scalability and waste management implications of the proposed solution. The next phase involves field testing the prototype to assess its performance in real-world high-altitude conditions. This research contributes to building resilient energy infrastructure in disaster-prone regions while advancing energy access through circular economy.