Plan to power states with green energy unveiled

By siliconindia   |   Friday, 25 September 2009, 18:32 IST
Printer Print Email Email
Bangalore: A draft renewable energy plan for Karnataka, Maharashtra and Rajasthan has been created by the World Institute of Sustainable Energy (WISE) with funding from the British High Commission. The plan aims to develop capacity building to implement renewable technologies for climate mitigation. The Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) has already produced a draft renewable energy policy. It will be finalized and sent to the cabinet next month. According to Founder Director General of WISE, GM Pillai, the three states were chosen because they have the highest potential. Karnataka has already implemented a good amount of hydel power and has above 25,000 megawatts (MW) potential for wind and solar energy. Shivananda Murthy, Managing Director of KREDL said they were pushing for grid strengthening. "Power allocation for 8000 MW of wind energy is already done, 540 MW is being generated from co-gen projects, 420 MW from mini-hydel and 100 MW has been allocated for solar power. Three small solar projects of one kilowatt each are being started at Kolar, Belgaum and Raichur to power irrigation projects there," Murthy added.