The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Tap solar energy, suggests KREDL

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 15, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Tap solar energy, suggests KREDL

B.S. Satish Kumar

Solar water heaters may be made mandatory

Government likely to issue relevant notification soon
Hostels and hotels too to be covered by the new law

Bangalore: In an attempt to overcome the State’s power shortage, Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd. (KREDL) has recommended that the Government make it mandatory for all new houses to install solar water heaters.

The Government is likely to issue a notification in this regard shortly, KREDL Managing Director B. Shivalingaiah said on the sidelines of a function organised here on Tuesday to launch the vision document ‘Mission-2022’ brought out by the Indian Association of Energy Management Professionals on “How India can achieve energy independence by 2022.”

For new buildings

The recommendation says the installation of solar water heaters should be made mandatory for new constructions on sites of 30 x 40 ft and above. There is also a move to make solar heaters compulsory for buildings with a built-up area of 600 sq. ft and above.

According to sources, KREDL has suggested that the mandatory installation of solar water heaters should be made part of the building bylaws. The clause should be enforced during the sanctioning of the building plan, and the installation of the solar water heaters should be confirmed by the authorities concerned.

Dr. Shivalingaiah said it had also been recommended that installation of solar water heaters be made mandatory for hostels in educational institutions and hotels.

Solar water heaters would reduce pressure on the power grid during the morning peak hours when power consumption is at its highest. He recalled that power shortage had reached a peak during the recent summer. Though the State had offered to buy power from other States at Rs. 6 a unit, there was no surplus power available at that time.

The State’s power consumption was increasing rapidly, but the mega power projects planned were not coming up because of opposition from people based on environmental concerns. Hence, the State should focus on tapping its eco-friendly renewable energy sources, especially solar energy, he said.

Leading State

Karnataka is already one of the leading States in the country in installing solar water heaters, and Bangalore city tops the country in the number of heaters installed.

The State’s five electricity supply companies offer a nominal rebate in the power bills of houses with solar water heaters.

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