The West Bengal government has set a target to generate 500 mw from renewable sources by 2015 for commercial purposes. Of this, around 40% will be generated from wind energy, 30% bio-mass, 20% hydro while the balance 10% will be solar power. At present, the state generates 75 mw of green energy, which is connected to the grid.

Announcing this here on Monday, West Bengal power department’s special secretary SP Gon Chowdhury said the state by has set a target to generate 250 mw of green energy by 2012. “While currently around 1.5 lakh families in the state are using green energy for their electricity requirement, by 2015 we will cover some 5 lakh families,” he added.

The West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission has set a target to generate at least 10% of the state’s power requirement from renewable sources by 2012. The state also plans to popularise green energy in the urban pockets, which is till now largely limited to rural belts.

“Estimates suggest that green energy in West Bengal will attract investment of about Rs 10,000 crore by 2015-16,” said Mr Gon Chowdhury. Mr Gon Chowdhury was talking at a press meet organised by the US Consul General to mark the visit of 11 US renewable energy companies in Kolkata. The delegation has been led by US commerce assistant secretary David Bohigian.

In addition to its Kolkata visit, the delegation will also visit Bangalore and three Chinese cities. This is the second clean energy trade mission Mr Bohigian brought to India, the first taking place in New Delhi and Chennai in April 2007.

“By 2020, it is estimated that China, India and the US will provide a solution to the global green energy need as well as issues related to pollution and climate change,” said Mr Bohigian.