Experts discuss key issues at the CII energy conference

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Mysuru Zone conducted a conference on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency for Enhancing Productivity which was attended by experts covering a plethora of issues related to the topic.

At a conference held in Mysuru on Wednesday, G. Sheela, managing director of Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC), said that despite sourcing over 50 per cent renewable energy in Karnataka, it was unable to meet the peak demand.

She was referring to the delayed and failed monsoon last year, which saw the peak power demand in Mysuru increase to 500 MW, while the increase was significant across the state. According to Ms. Sheela, who also highlighted some of the government’s policies, the additional power was purchased at a high rate of ₹10 per unit.

Santosh Gundapi, vice-chairman, CII Mysuru zone, set the conference theme and context and said that India is the third largest economy in the world and the third largest energy consuming country in the world. In a bid to go green and maintain energy consumption and economic growth, the country ranked fifth in the world in solar power capacity and also ranked high in other forms of renewable energy such as wind, he added.

He said that the concept of Atmanirbhar Bharat could become a reality only if the power supply was sustainable and while Prime Minister Narendra Modi had set the bar high for installation and utilization of solar power, it was the responsibility of the industry and end-users to make it a reality. He added that the industry, which is one of the main energy consumers, has a role to play in the transition to green energy.

The conference aimed to equip industry professionals with the knowledge and strategies to effectively reduce energy costs and increase sustainability in industrial operations.

The conference also facilitated dialogue and collaboration for practical implementation of solutions, providing a platform for stakeholders. CII said some of the topics discussed included moving towards net-zero emission facilities, best practices in designing and installing solar power plants, green computing, green energy sourcing, sustainable energy efficiency buildings, etc.