The Karnataka government is looking to bring down its transmission losses from the present 23 per cent to 15 per cent by 2013. Karnataka additional chief secretary K Jairaj said, the government had launched initiatives for greening power and presently the state had renewable energy generation capacity of 2,500 mw of which 1,500 mw was wind and the rest mini hydro co-generation and bio-mass, he said.
It had also given a thrust to solar power. A renewable energy policy was expected shortly, he said adding that the state was looking at adding 6,000 Mw by 2013. On smart grids, he said Bescoms were in talks with IT companies to start a pilot project that could be replicated in other parts of the state. He further added the state was making efforts to seek more power from the centre.
Out of the 1,500 Mw allocated by the centre, it received only 1,200 Mw. He said buying power from the open market was currently an expensive proposition. He said the first unit in Udupi will see commissioning of 600 Mw by February-March and unit eight of Raichur will see commissioning of 250 Mw by January-February and commissioning of additional 250 Mw of renewable energy would help ease the demand-supply gap. “We would then be comfortable,” he said.
Karnataka CM Yeddyurappa added that the state’s present installed capacity of renewable energy (wind, mini-hydel and solar) is 2,596 mw, 11 per cent of its energy generation capacity. “We are also trying to generate energy from municipal and industrial wastes,” he noted.
The Chief Minister also requested the Centre to give speedy environment and forest clearances for establishing mega power projects, and more central assistance for developing mini-hydel, solar and wind energy units. Yeddyurappa said the present overall energy deficit of the state was 1,400 mw to 2,000 mw during peak time and te government planned to add 5000 mw to 7,000 mw in the next five years.
The government also announced solar power would light up the majestic Vidhan Soudha here, the state secretariat, the world heritage site of Hampi and some other key structures in Karnataka. This was decided at a meeting between Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah and Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa recently.
Other places which would come under the proposed initiative for which the Centre has assured help include Raj Bhavan and the Chief Minister’s residence here. Abdullah said the government was also keen to illuminate major religious places with solar power to show what renewable energy can do.
