BANGALORE: Karnataka is planning an ambitious and innovative scheme for tapping renewable energy in villages which is said to be the first of its kind in the country.

The State-run Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) has prepared a proposal for installing hybrid renewable energy system, which comprises both solar and wind energy generators, in 100 villages.

KREDL Managing Director Shivalingaiah told The Hindu that the non-conventional energy unit would be dedicated exclusively for taking care of the energy requirements of streetlights in 100 select villages. This will make these villages self-reliant as far as power supply to streetlights is concerned.

The scheme is being taken up as a demonstration project to create public awareness about non-conventional energy apart from helping the 100 villages.

Generation

Under the scheme, each generation unit can take care of the power supply requirement of 10 streetlights for 12 hours a day. Each unit will have a total capacity of 1,300 Watts.

Each unit is expected to generate 5 units of power a day — 3.8 units from the wind component and 1.2 unit from the solar component. The energy thus generated will be stored in a battery that will be connected to the generator.

Mr. Shivalingaiah said each generation unit would cost about Rs. 3.70 lakh. While 75 per cent of the cost will be subsidised by the Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources, the State has to spend only about Rs. 92,500 on every unit. The entire demonstration project with 100 generating units would cost Rs. 3.77 crore, of which the Government has to invest about 25 per cent of the cost. It is possible to recover the cost of each of the generating unit in six to seven years. A majority of the areas in the State have a good wind energy potential, he said.

According to KREDL's Technical Officer H. Naganagouda, it is possible to take care of the lighting requirements of 15 streetlights by a single generating unit if that area has high wind energy potential. It will require about 20 x 20 feet space for setting up each of the generating unit.

The proposal regarding setting up of the 100 demonstration units has been submitted to the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Department, which is examining the issue.

The Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) had suggested to the RDPR Department to install a big wind power generating unit with a capacity of 500 MW exclusively to take care of the energy requirement of streetlights and water supply schemes in village panchayats.

However, Manjula, Director (Rural Infrastructure) RDPR, said that the Department was not considering the KPTCL's suggestion as installing a big wind energy unit with a capacity of 500 MW would require huge finances. Instead, the Department was examining the KREDL's proposal for setting up small hybrid renewable energy systems.

"We are positive about the proposal and we will take a final decision in about a week," she said.

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