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Karnataka electricity sector transformation

Karnataka has left behind Tamil Nadu in the renewable energy capacity addition race, surpassing the latter by 1.7 GW as at the end of March 2018, according to a new report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). Karnataka’s renewable capacity has also exceeded its coal-fired capacity by 2.5 GW. According to the report, state added as much as 4 GW solar generation capacity in 2017-18, which took its total solar capacity to 5 GW. Its total renewable energy capacity stood at 12.3 GW at the end of March. Tamil Nadu until this year was the frontrunner in the race to renewables and still leads in wind energy capacity. Karnataka, on the other hand, has been rapidly expanding on its solar capacity by adopting industry friendly policies. It’s good to see a healthy competition between the two progressive states, but both could do much more in tapping its wind potential. According to the IEEFA report, titled ‘Karnataka electricity sector transformation’, the financial troubles for the coal power sector reflects the overall situation of stranded assets in India.

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