Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) was formed on 8^th march 1996 as a nodal agency of the Government of Karnataka to facilitate the development of non conventional energy sources. It is registered under companies act.

Prior to the creation of KREDL, the Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology (KSCST), the erstwhile Karnataka Electricity Board (KEB) and Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) functioned as a nodal agencies of the Government in that order. But each of the above agencies had their own priorities and limitations. While KSCST had a research orientation, the KEB's priority was management of power transmission and distribution. KPCL was involved in the construction of large power projects and could not focus adequately on small power projects and could not focus adequately on small power projects in the non conventional energy sector. Therefore promotion of renewable energy projects as a supplement to conventional power generation tended to the back seat. This persuaded the Government of Karnataka to set up a separate agency for rendering hand holding type of support to renewable energy project developers.

Mandate of KREDL is:

THE POLICY ENVIRONMENT

KREDL with the financial assistance of MNES has conducted biomass resource assessment study in twenty  taluks of the state. Studies are undertaken by KREDL under the National Biomass Resource Assessment Programme of MNES in another ten Taluks of the state for the year 2001-2002.The studies are expected to complete shortly. Anna University Chennai who is the apex institution for Biomass Resource Assessment survey in Karnataka has surveyed the district wise Biomass resource availability in Karnataka. As per the report more than 600 MW potential exists in the state for setting up Biomass based Power Plants in the state.

One Biomass power project with an installed capacity of 4.5 MW has been commissioned in the state. Private developers are showing lot of interest in setting up Biomass based power projects in the state. Till now 60 projects with an installed capacity of 443.7 MW have been sanctioned by the state government.
 
 

There are 40 sugar factories in the state. The total crane crushing capacity of this 40 existing sugar mills in the state is about 1,15000 tones per day. The bagasse yield is about 40,000 tones per day. This bagasse can support at least 600 MW of power generation capacity using ordinary medium pressure boilers and turbo generators. If high pressure boilers and turbo generators are used, the installed power generation capacity in sugar factories could go up to 900 MW or even more. Due to lack of expertise and experience in handling high pressure boilers and turbo generators it would take some more time for the management  of sugar factories to go in for the high pressure technology but as things stand today ,using medium pressure boilers and turbo generators only, sugar factories in the state can generate 1000 MW of power.

Till 31.10.2002 the state government has accorded permission to 44 sugar factories to establish cogeneration plants of 794.1 MW capacity capable of exporting 500 MW to the state electricity to grid.10 sugar factories and one paper mill have commissioned for generation plant of capacity of 182.8 MW out of which 122 MW of power is being exporters to KPTCL grid. Till now government of Karnataka has disbursed Rs 1767 lakhs as capital subsidy to 7 sugar factories for having commissioned the cogeneration plant.
 

Solar and other renewable energy supply options have the capability to supply a large portion of our energy requirements. The increased use of renewable energy technologies will reduce pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions as the energy is derived from the natural sources of sun, wind etc.
The Sun is a giant nuclear fusion reactor producing many billion units of energy. A fraction of this energy reaches earth as in the form of Electromagnetic radiation. The earth receives more energy from the sun in one minute than the entire world's consumption in a year. solar radiation provides the earth with about 1370 Watts per square metre. If we could harvest one percent of this energy - we can bring plenty of clean and renewable energy.

KARNATAKA RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT LIMITED is motivated to promote and propagate large scale utilisation of renewable energy. Following are the main activities carrying out through solar section of this Organisation.

Karnataka is bestowed with a rich potential for development of 7500 MW of hydroelectric projects, of which only 2755 MW constituting about 36.75% of the potential has been exploited. Large hydro electric projects are not coming up on account of environmental considerations, difficulties in resettlement of local inhabitants, interstate river water disputes etc. This has underscored the need for small hydro project development., as they are from problems that afflict major hydroelectric projects. It is unnecessary to development as they are free from problems that effect on the environment; require lesser time and resources from concept to commissioning stage. It is estimated that 1800 MW of small hydro power potential can be exploited in the state. such potential can be exploited in the state. such potential exists at the toes of the medium and minor irrigation dams, canal drops and hill streams.

The Government has encouraged private sector participation in small power projects. So far the state Government has issued licenses to IPPs for construction of 166 small hydro projects with a total capacity of 791.5 MW. Projects with a total installed capacity of 146.59 MW have been commissioned till date (This includes 7 projects 25.77MW capacity in Government sector ). Karnataka has thus taken a lead in the small hydro segment of the non conventional energy sector. The state government has waived water royalty for small hydro projects up to 20 MW generating capacity.
 

Karnataka is bestowed with good wind energy potential in the country. Of the 4500 MW wind energy potential identified by the Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources (MNES), 7161 MW have been assessed for Karnataka. KREDL being the State Nodal Agency in the state has been studied the wind energy potentials by installing 53 sophisticated wind monitoring stations in the state. During the last 10-12 years of time.

MNES has fixed the qualifying norms for the, sites having wind power destiny (WPD) above 150 Watts per Square Metre at 30 M a.g.l., are considered for the development of wind farms and it is further revised to 200 watts per square metre at 50 M above a ground level. With this revision of WPD, the sites in Karnataka are almost are viable for the development of wind farms.