Date:31/07/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/07/31/stories/2004073100901900.htm

Back Power generation from non-conventional sources — `States must tune policies to draw pvt investments'

Our Bureau

The Union Minister of State for Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Mr Vilas Muttemwar.

Chennai , July 30

THE Union Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources will persuade State Governments to adopt a long-term power purchase policy, according to its Secretary, Mr A.M. Gokhale.

The move will give the industry confidence to invest in power generation from non-conventional energy sources. The Ministry would then aim for uniform guidelines, though considering the site-specific nature of such projects "no real uniform policy" is possible, he said.

Utilising non-conventional energy sources for power generation is the only real option in the long-term considering the rapid increase in prices of conventional fuels.

While there is a potential for power projects using the non-conventional sources to look for funding under the clean development mechanism, "the procedure is long winded and at the end of which you get nothing. We (the Ministry) are not impressed," Mr Gokhale said at a press conference here on Friday.

Referring to the procedures involved, "it should be simpler and the benefits more substantial'', he said.

Clean development mechanism enables developed countries that are a part of the United Nation's Framework Convention on Climate Change to meet their greenhouse gas emission reduction targets at a lower cost by funding environment-friendly projects in developing countries.

The Union Minister of State for Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Mr Vilas Muttemwar, said that the Ministry is in talks with State governments to conserve power in the urban centres. Power could be generated from non-conventional sources wherever possible. For instance, streetlights and illumination for hoardings could use solar power.

In Bangalore, for instance, the city has saved over 300-400 MW of power by encouraging residents to shift to solar powered water heaters, he said.

In collaboration with the State Governments, the Ministry will form district advisory committees headed by the district collectors to look at measures to encourage power generation from non-conventional sources.