Energy efficiency standards for power guzzling industries on anvil

The government has identified 600-odd power guzzling industries such as fertilizers, steel, cement and paper for which energy efficiency standards will be laid down, Planning Commission member B.K. Chaturvedi said Wednesay.

"If these industries fail to adhere to the prescribed norms, they will be penalised," Chaturvedi said while addressing a conference, India Climate Policy and Business Conclave 2013, by industry association FICCI.

He said as part of the drive to achieve energy efficiency in the 13th Five Year Plan (2017-22), the government will focus on setting up super critical and ultra critical power plants.

"It is imperative for the states and cities to come on board to improve energy efficiency and implement the laws set out in the statutes," he said.

"India, at present, is witnessing 30 percent urbanisation which is set to reach 50 percent by 2040. Hence, planned transportation is needed, particularly, for intermediate cities and ways need to be devised for making buildings energy efficient," he said.

He said the government is looking to improve the energy mix where a sharper focus would be on renewables to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels.

"The Planning Commission has set up a task force on solar energy. It met a week ago to chart out priorities to be focused on to give impetus to solar manufacturing and power generation," he said.

Emphasising that India needed bigger and cheaper solutions to deal with issues of energy efficiency, Onno Ruhl, country director, The World Bank, said: "It is critical to focus on planned development of states and cities because 10 million people are moving to cities every year in India and creating intermediate cities."

"Hence, along with the government, private sector needs to find smart solutions on a large scale to make the growth process smooth for India," he said.