'STATES MUST FOCUS ON RENEWABLE ENERGY TO TACKLE POWER CRISIS'

Financial Times Information, May 6, 2005

The Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources has said that States facing power shortages need to focus on renewable sources of generation to tide over the situation.

Speaking here at a seminar on Thursday, the Minister of State for
Non-conventional Energy Sources, Mr Vilas Muttemwar, said States such as
Maharashtra could wipe out electricity deficit in the next three-four
years by increasing the use of renewable energy.

"Maharashtra has the potential to generate about 5,000 MW from wind energy
and another 1,500 MW from bagasse cogeneration from 160-odd sugar
factories. This could help meet the requirements of the State which is
facing shortages of nearly 4,000 MW," he said on the sidelines of an
Assocham seminar.

At present, the State generates only 280 MW from wind energy, he said.
With more efficient use of electricity, energy conservation measures and
generation from conventional fuels such as coal and gas, Maharashtra has
the potential to become power surplus in the future, he added.

Mr Muttemwar said he would also try to convince all States to stop using
advertisement panels at night or switch over to solar-powered panels to
save electricity. Efforts to use solar energy for streetlights are also
being made, he said. To promote renewable energy sources, Muttemwar
suggested that the State Electricity Regulatory Commissions fix
preferential tariffs for purchase of power from such projects.

Emphasising on the need for distributed power generation projects, he said
decentralised grids using small hydro, wind, biomass, solar and diesel
hybrid systems offered a cost-effective solution to meet growing energy
needs.