Kerala - Kochi   

Move to achieve energy security

KOCHI: A renewable energy law being planned by the government will focus on energy security and energy independence. The law is expected to acquire much relevance in the present context of power shortage experienced in several States including Kerala.

Besides energy independence, the devastating impact of climate change has become an issue of critical importance, says G.M. Pillai, the Director General of World Institute of Sustainable Energy. The institute had drafted a model law and submitted to the union government. The central law will be based on the WISE draft.

The draft law prepared by WISE proposes to increase the target for electricity generation from renewables to 10 per cent of the total electricity generated in the country by 2010 and 20 per cent by 2020. Provisions have been included in the draft law to address the energy problems faced by rural and urban areas.

Solar water heating is to be made mandatory throughout urban areas by 2012. There will be a time-bound programme for setting up solar rooftop lighting systems in 10,000 government buildings by 2010. Conversion of fossil fuel-based industrial heating using solar concentrator technology or its hybrids is another programme.

India has at present about 30,000 MW captive generating industrial units of which more than 50 per cent are diesel-based. The draft law proposes time-bound conversion of these captive units to biofuel-based generation.

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