Energy

Karnataka utilizes both commercial and non commercial types of energy. Recent surveys show that 53.2% of the total energy use is catered to by non commercial sources such as firewood (43.6%), cow dung cake (1.4%), and agricultural wastes (8.2%). Whereas commercial energy like coal (5.8%), oil (11.6%), kerosene (2.6%), liquid petroleum gases (0.7%), and electricity (26.1%) contribute to 46.8% of the total energy use. A major part of these non conventional energy sources meet the heating (domestic) needs of the rural population (about 70-80% of the total) and, to a lesser extent, that of village industries. Whereas if electricity is considered, the share of the industrial sector in total consumption is about 44.9%, followed by irrigation pump sets contributing 28.6%, and domestic users who consume almost 15.5%.

The Rural Energy Scene:

Research reveals that a majority of households till date use traditional stoves for cooking (97.9%) and water heating (98.3%). A seasonal pattern is also seen in the energy consumed in both hilly and coastal regions.

Analysis of other forms of energy used for household purposes makes it clear that in the coastal zone kerosene is used for cooking as well as for lighting. The availability of bio-resources in the hilly region is the principal cause underlying the lower consumption of kerosene. The latter areas rely more on kerosene for lighting due to the non-availability of electricity for lighting purposes. In the hilly area, households are scattered over a large area and this is why the electrification of all households has not been possible yet.

Studies show that solar energy could be a good alternative in fulfilling energy demands related to the drying of agricultural products, cooking (through solar cookers), hot water for bathing and washing (solar water heaters), and lighting (through solar photovoltaic systems).

Efforts are on in Karnataka to replace bulk consumption of traditional energy sources by more environment-friendly options.