Now, a park for renewable energy in Bengaluru

 Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) will construct a two-acre renewable energy park and green building for its corporate office at Nagarabhavi.

The park will have all types of renewable energy models. Assistant General Manager, Solar Energy, KREDL, Hanumantharayappa said, “KPTCL has six acres of land  at Nagarabhavi, of which they are giving us two acres of land. Here, we will be building KREDL corporate office under green building concept and a renewable energy park. All types of renewable energy models will be created, similar to IGMF and more. This will the first (of its kind structure) in Karnataka.”

A year ago, the estimated project cost was Rs 25 crore, but now it has escalated to Rs 45-50 crore. Tenders from private companies have been invited to create the model. The whole project will be completed in another one-and-a-half years. Modalities will also be worked out of how much power can be generated and supplied to grid, KREDL administration officer H N Siddalinga added.

However, experts said that mere creation of dummy models is not needed. They should come up with latest advances, generate power and supply to the grid which is the need of the hour. KREDL had created a similar mini-renewable park at Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain (IGMF), over a decade ago. But since the last five years, it has not been managed well. As a result, many instruments have collapsed and are beyond repair.

The horticulture department, too, had told KREDL many a times to repair them, but it fell on deaf ears. KREDL did not take interest because of lack of proper water supply, lack of interest from officials as they were dummies created on rented space. The models were homes running on solar panels, mini-gymnasium, battery car and solar lighting and wind mill, they added. The experts observed that showcasing dummies is not needed. Focus should be on generation and supply in such vast land space.

Power policy analyst Shankar Sharma  said that things should be done properly at the proposed park, unlike IGMF. The future of power sector is renewable energy and they should focus on that. KREDL failed earlier not because of technology, but because of the implementing agency's lack of interest, he added.

Legal advisor to FKCCI on energy matters M G Prabhakar added that people are well aware of solar rooftop panels and other such concepts. At KRS, solar panels are being installed to generate power. Technology is advancing rapidly, they should now come up with new technologies and show people how they work so that more power can be generated, he felt.