Bengaluru, March 18: The Karnataka government has set an ambitious target to achieve 25,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity over the next five years. Gaurav Gupta, the Additional Chief Secretary for Energy, shared this information on Wednesday during the launch of the book titled “How Can India Make Its Renewable Future Responsible?”
During the event, organized by the Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited and the Energy, Environment, and Water Council, Gupta emphasized that this goal can be easily achieved with the support of investors and the general public.
He pointed out that land acquisition for renewable energy projects poses a significant challenge. Many people are concerned about the impact on their livelihoods, which also becomes a barrier for investors. Gupta stressed the importance of educating the public on the critical role renewable energy plays in the nation’s development.
He noted that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Energy Minister K.J. George, and Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda have taken several steps to streamline the land acquisition process. This includes the launch of a special online portal that allows investors and farmers to directly engage in the land conversion process.
Gupta highlighted that over the past three decades, the Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) has played a pivotal role in making Karnataka a leading state in renewable energy. Currently, the state has more than 23 gigawatts of established renewable energy capacity, primarily from solar and wind sources.
He cited the Pavagada Solar Park as an example, which, with a capacity of over 2,000 megawatts, is one of the largest solar parks in the world and serves as a model for inclusive development, allowing farmers to earn benefits by leasing their land for extended periods.
Karnataka has also emerged as a leader in wind energy, boasting over 8,238 megawatts of installed capacity.
During the event, T.D. Rajegowda, the chairman of KREDL and a legislator, praised various government initiatives, including the Chief Minister’s Solar Agriculture Scheme. He described this scheme as a significant step towards integrating agriculture with renewable energy.
The event was attended by K.P. Rudrappaiah, Managing Director of KREDL, Karthik Ganeshan, Director of CEW, along with several senior officials and industry representatives.
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