State to add 6,000 Mw via renewable energy

Karnataka plans to add 6,000 Mw through renewable energy resources in the next four years, a top official said today. The state government had set out three goals in terms of energy. It was focussing on ensuring energy for all, being energy efficient and "greening" energy, Karnataka energy department additional chief secretary K Jairaj said.

“The focus is on conserving energy through use of energy efficient devices like solar water heaters and ‘CFL’ lighting,” he said at the National Energy Conservation Day, co-organised by Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited.

In Bangalore itself, use of solar water heaters had reduced peak hour demand by 200 MW, he said, adding In Karnataka, transmission and distribution losses was 22.5 per cent which accounted for 8000-900 million units of loss. The government aimed at reducing overall transmission and distribution loss to 15 per cent by 2013, he said.

State Energy Minister K S Eshwarappa said small changes in lifestyle without any great investments or technical knowhow could save energy. Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited

Managing Director Latha Krishnarao said Indians should stop aping the west in terms of building construction. The glass arcades were huge energy guzzlers.

Sensitising school children and training masons on greening could be small steps in energy conservation, she added.