Karnataka aims for 800 Mw from renewable energy resources

Power-hungry Karnataka has worked out a comprehensive plan to add 800 Mw to the state grid over the next two years by tapping renewable energy resources for an estimated investment of Rs 4,000 crore.

Currently, the state has an installed capacity of 7,784 Mw, of which hydropower contributes a large chunk (3,427 Mw). While 2,848 Mw comes from coal-fired units, 136 Mw comes from nuclear energy sources and 1,016 Mw from renewable energy sources.

The state has assigned the Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd (KREDL), a government undertaking, with the task of the capacity addition.

New locations have been opened up for investment in wind power, mini-hydel power, cogeneration and biomass power-based projects throughout the state.

"The response from the private sector has been highly encouraging. Many of them have already shown financial commitments. During the present fiscal, we will add 400 Mw to the state grid and another 400 Mw by 2007-end. We intend to cross the 2,000-Mw mark by the end of 2008-fiscal," KREDL managing director B Shivalingaiah told Business Standard.

At present, Karnataka is the third largest producer of power from renewable energy resources, after Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. According to the Central Electricity Authority, the annualised power load growth rate for Karnataka is projected at 5 per cent for the next 10 years.

Accordingly, the peak demand will double to 14,071 Mw in 2016 from the present 7,700 Mw. The energy requirements are expected to surge to 81 billion units from 34.5 billion.

The state government wants the KREDL to enhance power generation from renewable energy resources to 6,911 Mw over a period of five years, by 2011 (wind -- 5,592.62 Mw, cogeneration -- 846.10 Mw and biomass "� 473.20 Mw). So far, the KREDL has commissioned projects to the extent of 1,016 Mw (wind "� 597.18 Mw, cogeneration "� 339.90 Mw and biomass "� 79.50 Mw).

But the target set by the government appears to be a daunting one since the grid, even after its upgradation, will be able to support only 2,000 Mw of installed generation capacity in renewables. The KREDL has urged the state government to upgrade the grid for future requirements.