Karnataka’s RE potential more than 28 GW: WISE [Feb 2012]

February 10, 2012 6:58 am

Karnataka is one of the pioneers where states in India are concerned to draft an RE Policy for the state for the period of 2009-14. The policy envisions a generation of 6600 MW of renewable electricity by 2014 and about Rs.23,890 crore of investments during the said period. Studies by the World Institute of Sustainable Energy (WISE), Pune, suggest that Karnataka has much more RE potential than envisaged, which is more than 24 GW, out of which currently, only 3.45 GW has been tapped so far (as on Nov 2011). This includes 1929 MW of wind, 86 MW of biomass, 782 MW of bagasse cogen, 646 MW of small hydro, and 9 MW of solar. Wind offers the maximum potential with an untapped potential of 11 GW. Obviously the huge untapped potential also creates a huge investment opportunity.
To deliberate more on the RE policy and create a favourable environment for Karnataka’s development and energy security via the renewable route, WISE organised a one-day conference on ‘Renewable Energy for Karnataka’s development and energy security’ in Bengaluru on 24 January. The conference was supported by the Government of Karnataka and the Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd (KREDL).
GM Pillai, founder Director General, WISE, said, “India has till date installed more than 22,000 MW grid-connected renewable electricity, and if policy and other pro-RE initiatives were carried out, the country could very well see 100,000 MW of grid-connected RE being installed by 2020. Karnataka could play a major role in making this possible”.
Shamim Banu, Addl Chief Secretary, Energy Department, Government of Karnataka urged the government, developers, private and public players to come together and form a partnership to increase the growth of renewable in the state.