Kathmandu University

Biraj Singh Thapa

Associate Professor,

Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering

Staff Quarter, KU, Dhulikhel

+9779861936212

bst@ku.edu.np

Bio

Research

Honors and Awards

Other Position

Publication

Biography

Professional Profile

Established a track record for the high-impact publication with Scopus h-index: 24 and 1300+ Citation in Google Scholar.
Demonstrated capacity in undertaking cross-disciplinary research and securing grants.
Specialized knowledge and experiences on hydropower technology and sediment handling.
Proven excellence in strategic planning and executing of consulting projects.
Professional leadership qualities and capacity for administrative responsibilities.

Current Position:

Associate Professor (March 2022 - Till now), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kathmandu University, Nepal (First Joining Date - July 2002)
Team Leader, Green Hydrogen Lab
Program Lead, Nepal Hydrogen Initiatives

Education:

PhD in Fluids Engineering (2013-2016), Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
MS by Research in Hydraulic Machinery (2010-2012), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kathmandu University, Nepal
Master of Science in Renewable Energy Engineering (2003-2005), Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (1998-2002), Kathmandu University, Nepal
Intermediate of Science (1996-1998), Kathmandu University, Nepal

Profession Experience:

Supervisor for 7 PhD and 15 Master by Research studies in collaboration between Kathmandu University, Nepal; Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway; Western Sydney University, Australia; and, University of Flensburg, Germany.
Expert Member, Committee for recommending ‘Institutional setup for implementing the Green Hydrogen Policy of Nepal, Nepal Government, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, 2025.
Expert Member, Committee for drafting ‘Green Hydrogen Policy of Nepal, Nepal Government, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, 2023
Expert Member, Committee for ‘Green Hydrogen-based Chemical Fertilizer in Nepal’, Nepal Government, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, 2022.
Member, Standing Committee on Studies, World Energy Council, 2022 - Till now.
Member, Coordination Committee of Nepal Government for Green Hydrogen Policy, 2021- Till now.
Co-Lead, Thematic Working Group on Energy, Himalayan University Consortium, 2021- Till now.
Project Leader, “Pilot Scale Green Ammonia Production in Nepal for Contribution to Domestic Economy and Better Utilization of Hydropower Electricity”, funded by Nepal Electricity Authority to Kathmandu University, 2022-2024.
Project Leader, “Design of Industrial Scale Green Urea Production in Nepal for Contribution to the Domestic Economy and Better Utilization of Hydropower Electricity”, funded by Bagmati Province Government, Nepal to Kathmandu University, 2022-2023.
Project Leader, “Incubation of Synthetic Natural Gas Production Enterprise for Utilization in Cooking Sector”, funded by KOICA to Kathmandu University, 2022-2023.
Project Leader, “Technology Transfer and Local Adaptation for Developing NOC as a Hydrogen Fuel Producing and Distributing Company”, funded by Nepal Oil Corporation to Kathmandu University, 2021-2023.
SubConsultant to Stantec for World Bank project on “Hydropower to Hydrogen Potential in Nepal: A High-Level Preliminary Study”, 2021.
Institutional Contact Person and Project Lead at KU, Hydro-Himalaya Project funded by Norwegian Government, 2021-2026.
Member Secretary and Faculty-in-Charge, Turbine Testing Lab, Kathmandu University, April 2012 -Dec 2013 & March 2018 - March 2021
Team Leader, Green Hydrogen Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kathmandu University
Supervisor for 2 PhD and 6 Masters by Research studies at Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kathmandu University; 1 PhD Student at Western Sydney University, Australia; and Masters student at University of Flensburg, Germany.
Visiting Scholar, State Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Science, Wuhan University, China, 2019-2020
Focal Person from Kathmandu University to the Himalayan University Consortium to follow up the activities associated with HUC on relevant Thematic Work Groups, 2018-2020
Project Leader for the project “Capacity and competence development for introducing Francis Turbine in Nepalese Micro Hydropower Projects”, funded by NORAD to Kathmandu University, 2018-2020.
Project Leader for the project “Cooperation for Capacity Development Program on Education of Future Generation of Water Resources Development Professionals”, funded by World Bank to Kathmandu University, 2017-2018
Focal Person for implementing MoU between Kathmandu University and NEA Engineering Company; between Kathmandu University and Chilime Engineering and Services Company; and, between Kathmandu University-School of Engineering and School of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering at Wuhan University for “Cooperation in the field of energy and power sector development and contribution to increased cooperation between academic institutions and industries for education and research”
Activity Leader for the project “EnergizeNepal Project at TTL (Establishment of a center for design, operation, and maintenance of mechanical equipment for hydropower plants in Himalaya Region at Kathmandu University)”, funded by NORAD/ The Royal Norwegian Embassy to Kathmandu University, 2016-2021
Expert Consultant for the project “Incubation of Turbine Design Services as a Spin-off Company from TTL and Developing Competencies for Designing and Manufacturing Francis turbines for Low Head Applications", funded by NORAD to Kathmandu University, 2015
Project Leader for the project “Capacity Development for Utilization of Reversible Pump Turbines in Nepalese Hydropower Projects”, funded by NORAD to Kathmandu University, 2013-2014
Project Leader for the project “Need assessment of Improvement on traditional foundry technology of Nepali arts and crafts for implementing in engineering products”, funded by University Grant Commission to Kathmandu University, 2013-2014
Activity Leader for the project “Feasibility Study for Turbine Manufacturing and Testing Facility in Nepal”, funded by NORAD/ The Royal Norwegian Embassy to Kathmandu University, 2012-2013
Exchange Researcher, Waterpower Laboratory, NTNU, Norway, February-June 2011
Activity Leader for the project “Development of hydraulic turbines with new design philosophy as a foundation for turbine manufacturing in Nepal”, funded by NORAD to Kathmandu University, 2010-2013

Honors and Awards

National Talent Award in Technological Innovation (Green Hydrogen), by the Prime Minister, Government of Nepal, 2025.

National Science Technology and Innovation Award (Green Hydrogen) by the Minister of Education, Science, and Technology, Government of Nepal, 2024

Editor of the International Board in the field of Hydrogen, "New & Renewable Energy Journal", 2025-2026.

Invited Participant for Asia Pacific Hydrogen Summit and Exhibition, Brisbane, Australia, 2024.

Invited Participant for China's Carbon Market Development Progress and Global Carbon Market Cooperation Seminar, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Wuhan, China, 2024.

Invited Speaker for COP28, on the side event, Addressing Loss and Damage: Nepal's Climate Change Impact and Compensation, Dubai, UAE, 2023.

Invited Speaker for TEDx, on Green Hydrogen for Climate Action: Global Trends and Nepal’s Response, Kathmandu University, 2023.

Invited Participant for Study Tour on Hydrogen, National Renewable Energy Laboratory-NREL, Colorado, Department of Energy, USA, 2023.

Invited Speaker for South Asia Energy Masterclass on Green Hydrogen, USAID/ SAREH/SAREP, online, 2022.

Invited Speaker for Asia-Pacific Hydrogen Workshop, World Energy Council, online, 2022.

Resource Person for Synthesis Workshop on Renewable energy transitions: A comparative assessment of the Hindu Kush Himalaya, Andes, and Alps, HUC/ICIMOD, 2021.

Runner-Up Paper Award, Advancement in Engineering Education (iCAEED), 2019

Session Chair, IAHR-ASIA Symposium on Hydraulic Machinery and Systems, Korea, 2019.

Member of Editorial Board, Journal of Energy, SCIREA, 2018.

Nepal Representative for Asia Pacific Water Leadership Program, co-organized by ICIMOD and ICEWaRM, Australia, April 2018.

Invited Speaker in a side event Hydropower – part of the solution for sustainable development at Global SDG 7 Conference, United Nations ESCAP, Thailand, 2018.

Nepal Representative for Second Meeting of the Himalayan University Consortium Thematic Working Group on Water, co-organized by ICIMOD and Yunnan University, China, 2018.

Outstanding Reviewer Award, Renewable Energy Journal, Elsevier, 2017.

Nepal Representative for Invitation Program for Science and Technological Human Resources conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Center, Japan, 2010.

Best Paper Award, Asia-Pacific Forum on Renewable Energy, 2011

Research

Supervisor for 7 PhD and 15 Master by Research studies in collaboration between Kathmandu University, Nepal; Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway; Western Sydney University, Australia; and, University of Flensburg, Germany.
Expert Member, Committee for recommending ‘Institutional setup for implementing the Green Hydrogen Policy of Nepal, Nepal Government, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources andIrrigation, 2025.
Expert Member, Committee for drafting ‘Green Hydrogen Policy of Nepal, Nepal Government, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, 2023
Expert Member, Committee for ‘Green Hydrogen-based Chemical Fertilizer in Nepal’, Nepal Government, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, 2022.
Member, Standing Committee on Studies, World Energy Council, 2022-2025.
Member, Coordination Committee of Nepal Government for Green Hydrogen Policy, 2021.
Co-Lead, Thematic Working Group on Energy, Himalayan University Consortium, 2021-.
Project Leader, “Pilot Scale Green Ammonia Production in Nepal for Contribution to Domestic Economy and Better Utilization of Hydropower Electricity”, funded by Nepal Electricity Authority to Kathmandu University, 2022-2024.
Project Leader, “Design of Industrial Scale Green Urea Production in Nepal for Contribution to the Domestic Economy and Better Utilization of Hydropower Electricity”, funded by Bagmati Province Government, Nepal to Kathmandu University, 2022-2023.
Project Leader, “Incubation of Synthetic Natural Gas Production Enterprise for Utilization in Cooking Sector”, funded by KOICA to Kathmandu University, 2022-2023.
Project Leader, “Incubation of Nepal Hydrogen Initiative Program”, funded by NORAD to Kathmandu University, 2022-2024.
Project Leader, “Technology Transfer and Local Adaptation for Developing Nepal Oil Corporation as a Hydrogen Fuel Producing and Distributing Company”, funded by Nepal Oil Corporation to Kathmandu University, 2021-2023.
SubConsultant to Stantec for World Bank project on “Hydropower to Hydrogen Potential in Nepal: A High-Level Preliminary Study”, 2021.
Institutional Contact Person and Project Lead at KU, Hydro-Himalaya Project funded by the Norwegian Government, 2021-2026.
Project Leader, “Cooperation for Capacity Development Program on Education of Future Generation of Water Resources Development Professionals”, funded by World Bank to Kathmandu University, 2017-2018.