Karnataka Wins National Energy Conservation Award 2023
Karnataka has been chosen as the recipient of the top honor in the State Designated Agency (SDA Group-1) category by the Union Ministry of Power at the National Energy Conservation Awards 2023 (NECA 2022). The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) conducted these awards as part of the 'National Energy Conservation Day,' according to an official statement. President Droupadi Murmu conferred the award upon K.P. Rudrappaiah, Managing Director of Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd (KREDL), at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. The recognition was extended to the state in appreciation of its noteworthy accomplishments in energy conservation. KREDL earned this prestigious accolade for its successful execution of energy efficiency projects within the state.
Minister for Energy K.J. George, congratulated the Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) officials for their notable achievement, emphasizing the significance of energy conservation in addressing the challenges posed by climate change and global warming. He highlighted the department's unwavering commitment to clean and green energy initiatives, primarily focusing on raising awareness about energy conservation and enhancing energy efficiency.
Gaurav Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary (Energy) to the Government of Karnataka, expressed his happiness and said, "The states have a vital role in India's energy efficiency policy implementation. In Karnataka, we are working relentlessly to meet the state-specific goals of sustainable development in the most energy-efficient way. In this regard, the State has taken several measures to achieve energy efficiency".
Rudrapaiah, MD, KREDL, said, "We are pleased to be recognized for the spectacular work. KREDL has always been at the forefront of implementing Energy Conservation and Energy Efficiency (EC & EE) Activities. We have collaborated with the government and private stakeholders to promote the adoption of an energy-saving target of around 744MU in 5 major sectors over five years", he added.
Karnataka has consistently achieved the highest score and secured the position of a leading state, designated as a 'Front runner,' for three consecutive years in the State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) during SEEI 2020, SEEI 2021-2022, and 2023. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has recently announced the results for SEEI 2023, where Karnataka excelled with the highest score of 85.75, solidifying its status as the top-performing state in the country.
Implementing Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation endeavours is critical for meeting India's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target of reducing the emission intensity of its GDP by 45 percent by 2030 from the 2005 level. From empirical research, it is now established that energy conservation measures shall make the largest contribution to meeting the NDC target and mitigating adverse climatic change.
In response, the Indian government has implemented numerous initiatives to enhance energy efficiency over the past 22 years since the introduction of the EC Act in 2001. In alignment with these efforts, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) created and introduced the State Energy Efficiency Index in 2018. This index was designed to assess the energy efficiency levels in individual states and establish targets for enhancements in specified sectors nationwide.
