Karnataka mulls renewable energy policy

Bangalore: Karnataka Government will be announcing its renewable energy policy for increasing capacity in the sector.

The policy was delayed by two months because of consultations with various stakeholders and Government departments, said Mr K. Jairaj, Principal Secretary, Energy.

Participating in Renewable Energy Conclave & CEOs Round Table here on Tuesday, Mr Jairaj said the policy will give emphasis to private partnership apart from providing fiscal, investment and other incentives to augment the renewable capacity generation from 1,800 MW to more than 4,000 MW in five years. He said the policy focuses essentially on mini-hydro, solar and biomass sources.

Karnataka had a well-developed energy system with an installed capacity of 2,000 MW, to be scaled to 4,000 MW.

Mr Jairaj urged CII to contribute its experience through its members engaged in the renewable energy equipment manufacturing to provide useful information and suggestions for cost reduction to be incorporated in the new renewable energy policy.

Already, the State has taken up the initiative to popularise biomass energy production by inviting bids for building a 500-MW unit. More than 100 taluks have responded, Mr Jairaj said, adding that the Government would facilitate backward integration with input supplies such as wood and animal waste by organising agriculture workers to participate in the endeavour.

Tariff was a key issue and the Government would approach the Karnataka Energy Regulatory Commission to help the Energy Department make biomass power a viable proposition.

Earlier, addressing the Round Table CEOs of leading companies engaged in the renewable energy sector, Mr Jairaj said to tap into the $500 million market, growing at 15 to 20 per cent, the country needed a thrust on research and development to remove the technological barrier for scaling generation capability, apart from improving efficiency and quality in the existing plants.

Mr Bipalb Majumder, Country Manager and Managing Director of ABB (India), said as renewable energy could not replace conventional sources due to various constraints, efforts should be made to strike a balance to conserve fossil fuels.

Mr V. Balasubramanian, Chairman, Biodiesel Society of India and former Additional Chief Secretary of Karnataka, said shrub forests, which formed 30 per cent of the 21 per cent of forestland, should be leased to corporates for growing biofuel oil bearing raw materials such as Pongamia and Jetropha and plant bearing fuel oils. This would ease the pressure on the country’s import dependence on fossil fuel like petroleum.

Mr Anjan Ghosh, General Manager, Tata BP Solar India Ltd, said long-term policy commitment to ensure stable tariff for corporate sustainability of solar energy should help India scale up its generating capacity to gigawatt level.