: A renewable energy road map released by WWF-India and the World Institute of Sustainable Energy (WISE) for Palakkad shows that it is both feasible and practical for the district to meet 50 per cent of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2030.
The report was released by L. Radhakrishnan, adviser to the Chief Minister, and received by G. Vijayaraghavan, member of the State Planning Board, at a function here on Friday. The report says Palakkad can make a transition to a 50 per cent renewable energy (RE) scenario (including 100 per cent electricity from RE sources. The report provides a vision for a renewable and sustainable energy supply by 2030.
The report is a sequel to a national-level study ‘The Energy Report India – 100% Renewable Energy by 2050’ published by the WWF-India and TERI, and a State-level study ‘The Energy Report-Kerala – 100% Renewable Energy by 2050’ published by WWF-India and WISE in 2013.
It says Palakkad has a high potential for renewable energy resources, especially wind and solar. This makes the district very suitable for RE-based development model. From a land use perspective, the waste land available in Palakkad can be put to use for RE development. The potential for energy self-reliance based on RE can be practical even in short-to-medium-term scenario.
Sejal Worah, programme director, WWF-India, said, “This RE-based road map provides policymakers and planners a strong basis for deliberations towards charting a renewable energy future for the district that can be a model for other key districts across the country.”
G.M. Pillai, director general, WISE, Pune, said, “The plan for Palakkad includes a realistic and time-bound implementation road map that intends to extend the ambit of the energy policy and engender a new dialogue on energy and sustainability.”
