Legislators visit Bengaluru to explore clean energy solutions

Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd

Climate Parliament India recently organised a three-day visit to Bengaluru for Members of Parliament and State Legislative Assembly members from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Held from 22 to 24 April 2026, the visit was designed to give legislators direct experience of clean energy technologies, sustainable industrial practices and innovation ecosystems that could be relevant to their constituencies. 

Day One 

The delegation began at the Peenya Industrial Cluster, one of India's oldest industrial associations, representing around 12,000 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises(MSME), across approximately 2,000 acres. The visit offered a practical look at how MSMEs can reduce their carbon footprint when they are supported by shared infrastructure, streamlined processes, and association-led guidance on audits, financing, and compliance. The cluster is considered a strong model for replication across other industrial hubs in India. 

The group then visited Triveni, a 90-year-old firm with a long history in captive power generation and a growing focus on clean technology. Triveni showed a CO2-based long-duration energy storage system capable of storing energy for more than six hours at over 70 per cent efficiency, with an expected asset life of around 20 years. The firm also presented a CO2-based cooling system using heat pump technology. The visit illustrated how established industrial companies can play a meaningful role in piloting and demonstrating emerging clean energy solutions. 

The day concluded a Rainmatter, a non-profit that funds and supports projects focused on climate action, protecting the environment and supporting related livelihoods. The visit highlighted practical, scalable solutions in agriculture, energy efficiency, EV infrastructure, and energy innovation. Rainmatter's incubation model, which combines patient capital with mentorship and industry-government-startup partnerships, offers a route for bringing constituency-relevant clean energy solutions to market. 

Day Two 

Legislators visited the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), which presented research on nuclear power's strategic role in supporting India's long-term energy goals, including the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. The session addressed India's energy transition in the context of manufacturing requirements, resource constraints and geopolitical considerations. 

The delegation then visited Uravu Labs, which has developed atmospheric water generation technology that extracts drinking water from air using liquid desiccants. The modular, containerised systems produce up to 10,000 litres per day and are remotely monitored, making them suitable for water-stressed areas including coastal regions, low-groundwater zones, hill stations and pilgrimage sites. The technology has clear relevance to national initiatives such as the Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims to give every rural household in India access to safe, sufficient drinking water through a tap connection at home. 

To bring costs down to a workable level, the technology needs to be ordered at scale.  Programmes such as Smart Cities a flagship urban renewal program launched by the Government of India and eco or pilgrimage site infrastructure could help achieve that volume. Pairing the systems with solar or renewable energy would further reduce costs and environmental impact.

The day's final visit was to the Electronics City Industries Association (ELCIA), which represents over 200 member companies on a 1,000-acre campus employing 300,000 people directly and supporting three million indirectly. ELCIA contributes approximately 20 per cent of Karnataka's GDP and runs as India's second self-governed industrial township after Jamshedpur. Member companies are involved in some of India's flagship projects, including the HAL Tejas aircraft and Aadhaar-based systems. The delegation found the ELCIA model particularly instructive as a potential template for future green industrial townships. 

Day 3  

The final day began with a visit to KREDL, the state body responsible for renewable energy development in Karnataka. Karnataka is India's third largest renewable energy state, with approximately 25 GW of installed capacity and a target of 60 GW by 2027. The state consumes around 90 per cent of its renewable energy generation internally and is increasingly focused on Battery Energy Storage Systems. KREDL's approach, combining proactive policy, institutional partnerships, and skills development, offers a replicable model for other states working towards India's national 500 GW renewable energy target. 

The visit concluded at the Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association (KASSIA), which represents MSMEs participating in the Bureau of Energy Efficiency's Five Star Labelling Programme. The session identified practical barriers to MSME participation in energy efficiency programmes and green supply chains, with KASSIA submitting a formal memorandum to the delegation on behalf of its members. The key message was that certification infrastructure and simpler processes are prerequisites for small businesses to engage meaningfully with national efficiency standards. 

Members of the delegation acknowledged the approaches adopted by MSMEs across the visit and expressed interest in promoting similar solutions within their own constituencies.