State to unveil renewable energy policy

Bangalore: In a bid to promote renewable energy production and consumption in the state, the Karnataka government plans to unveil a new renewable energy policy on January 1, 2009 which will generate an additional 2,500 Mw power in the next five years.

The draft policy has 10 aims and objectives which include creating appropriate channels to collaborate with industry, supporting innovative technology, production and services, providing decentralised energy supply to agriculture, industry and households, to strengthen the grid system and creating SEZs to promote renewable energy.

“We have sanctioned projects in the renewable energy sector of upto 4,000 Mw. We see potential of 15,000 Mw in the state even if we exclude solar power.

The new renewable energy policy will look to tap maximum potential from the state in renewable energy resources,” said K Jairaj, principal secretary, energy department, government of Karnataka, who was speaking on the sidelines of a summit on renewable energy organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The government is also looking at generating 500 Mw of power through biomass for which the government has floated tenders inviting talukas to organise input through agricultural waste. 105 talukas have responded so far, said Jairaj.

A study conducted by the Indian Institute of Science has put the potential for biomass in Karnataka at 950 Mw.

The government through Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) has sanctioned 7 projects totalling 41 Mw in solar energy while 4 are under process. It has commissioned 11 projects of 81 Mw in biomass.

According to data available with the state government, as on September 2008, Karnataka has been allocated 393 wind projects totalling 8,002 Mw, 307 small hydro projects of 2,011 Mw, 50 co-generation projects of 962 Mw and 65 biomass totalling 478 Mw.

Karnataka has set itself a target of generating 5,450 Mw of renewable energy resources in the state by 2012 and 11700 Mw by 2018.