Date:29/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/29/stories/2008112951110500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Energy audit may become mandatory

Special Correspondent

Big consumers may be asked to increase energy efficiency

Users to be given target for saving energy
Such users to be eligible for carbon credits

BANGALORE: In a bid to promote energy conservation, the State Government is thinking of a periodical energy audit for all the power users with a sanctioned load of 600 kVA and above.

K. Jairaj, Principal Secretary, Department of Energy, told presspersons on the sidelines of a seminar on “clean development mechanism and its benefits” jointly organised by the Karnataka Energy Department and the Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd. in Bangalore on Friday that the energy auditing would have to be done by a third party.

The main intention was to create awareness about the scope for bringing about energy efficiency among these consumers who accounted for high energy consumption. After the energy audit, the consumers would be given targets for reducing their consumption through energy efficient methods. This would help the consumers as well as the State.

This energy conservation exercise would then be showcased in the international market under the Clean Development Mechanism for claiming carbon credits as this exercise would result in avoiding the burning of more fossil fuel to generate additional power which would have resulted in release of greenhouse gases. The carbon trading benefits would be claimed by consumers. Some of the participants at the seminar suggested to the Government to make it mandatory for the big consumers to reduce the consumption through energy efficient practices. The Government would think of making efforts to claim carbon credits for its power system improvement measures, including setting up new transformers which would result in reducing energy losses.

Mr. Jairaj said the Government wanted to develop KREDL, which was the nodal agency for the renewable energy projects, as a nodal agency for the CDM projects in the State by equipping it with carbon trading facilities.

Further, the proposed renewable energy policy would deal with steps to be initiated to help the State to showcase its projects and programmes to get carbon credits.

Technical Specialist at the Bureau of Energy Efficiency for Clean Development Mechanism Manu Maudgal said it would take two years to get carbon trading benefits after commencing the process. KREDL managing director V.P. Hiremath and representatives from various firms that offer consultation on CDM or those who have obtained CDM benefits spoke on the occasion.