The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Support for R&D ventures in engineering colleges

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Thursday, Dec 14, 2006
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Support for R&D ventures in engineering colleges

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Sources proposes to support research and development (R&D) by engineering colleges in the field of renewable energy sources, Secretary to the Ministry V. Subramanian said on Wednesday.

At a press conference here, he said the Ministry was now supporting R&D projects by various Indian Institutes of Technology in the country. The talent in the engineering colleges too need to be directed into the field, he said.

Energy requirements

Mr. Subramanian said the Ministry's target was to enable the country to meet 25 per cent of its total energy needs from renewable energy sources such as wind, sun and small hydroelectric projects by the end of the 15th Five Year Plan, which would be in the year 2032. At present, this sector contributed just one per cent of the total energy needs of the country.

The Ministry had called a meeting of all southern States and the Union Territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep here on Tuesday.

The meeting was to review the programmes and projects sanctioned by the Ministry in the region and discuss new proposals from the region.

He said the South Indian peninsula had huge potential for wind and small hydropower, in addition to biomass-based power projects. The Ministry had several programmes under which it could extend funds to support projects to tap the potential, he said.

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