The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : ‘Renewable energy can ease power shortage’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jul 22, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

‘Renewable energy can ease power shortage’

Staff Reporter

Solar heaters to be compulsory in new buildings
Renewable energy contributes about 10,400 MW

Bangalore: If the present rate of growth in India’s economy is to be sustained, the supply of electricity has to meet the demand, Vilas Muttemwar, Union Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy, said here on Friday.

Addressing the valedictory session of “Solar India 2007” conference and exhibition, organised by the World Institute of Sustainable Energy (WISE), Pune, Mr. Muttemwar said the 9 per cent power shortage in the country could only be bridged through renewable energy.

“Renewable energy has made a contribution of 10,400 MW to the national grid. The target set for the 11th Plan period is to achieve 14,000 MW power capacity through renewable energy,” he said.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has proposed Rs. 500 crore to support the renewable energy industry, which included research and development efforts to improve technology.

The Minister said the country had a “vibrant” solar industry, where solar water heating had emerged an important and widely used technology, contributing to energy saving in the domestic and commercial sectors.

This had been made possible by soft loans to individual households and organisations for installing heaters, and through incentives to encourage its use, he said.

Building bye-laws

The Ministry, in association with the Ministry of Urban Development, was trying to get building bylaws amended by local municipalities to make solar water heater installations mandatory in new buildings.

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