Kerala Government has became the first State Government in India to establish an Energy Management Centre (EMC) at State level, aiming primarily to remould and instrumentalise energy sector as a catalyst in promoting a development process which is econo-ecologically sustainable.

With a view to making energy sector achieve such a lead and catalytic role, EMC has evolved a novel and comprehensive energy management approach and institutional philosophy encompassing management of energy technology systems – both conventional and non-conventional, energy conservation in all sectors of the economy, energy resource management, rural and urban energy systems, energy education and training, energy generation and conservation based employment and poverty alleviation programmes.

India, one of the most affected countries in terms of energy shortage and increasing energy price became one such country in the world to adopt energy management measures at the earliest in all sectors of the economy on a priority basis, including popularising and promoting renewable energy technology and resources. When liberalization and globalization of economy take effect, energy management aimed at enhancing total energy efficiency in all sectors of the economy becomes a major factor in determining the comprehensive competitiveness of the economy. Giving due consideration to this energy-economy interaction process/scenario, the Government of Kerala took leadership initiatives for establishing a multi-disciplinary Energy Management Centre under the Department of Power.

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The Role of EMC

Energy Management Centre was established in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kerala, India in February 1996 as an autonomous organization under the Department of Power, Government of Kerala. As such, EMC has got a functional framework devoted to comprehensive and multi-disciplinary institutional objectives and orientation encompassing all aspects of energy, with a focus on energy-environment-development interactions. The guiding philosophy and school of thought of the Centre is “achieving sustainable development through enhancing total energy efficiency and application of renewable energy and environment friendly energy systems in all sectors of the economy”. To realise the above goals, the Centre is adopting a multi-faceted institutional and functional strategy focusing on the following programmes:

• Designated Government agency to co-ordinate, regulate and enforce the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act 2001 (Central Act 52 of 2001)
• Initiating and strengthening integrated sustainable development in different sectors of economy through comprehensive energy management programmes encompassing research, education and training, and consultancy related to all aspects of Energy-Environment-Development interactions.
• Promoting energy conservation in all sectors of the economy through scientific and technological research, education and training and professional consultancy and advice.
• Evolving comprehensive strategy, framework, platform and programmes for people’s participation with target focus on women and youth in energy conservation.
• Identifying energy intensity and energy efficiency status and evolving energy efficiency standardization in different sectors of the economy.
• Initiating and promoting multi-dimensional research, training, education and awareness programmes on energy-environment-development interface, aiming at evolving an integrated energy policy framework which will help achieve econo-ecologically sustainable development.
• Developing a state-of the-art data bank encompassing all aspects and dimensions of energy as a basic infrastructure facility.
• Establishing an international research, training and academic facility for studies on comprehensive energy management for the benefit of south countries.
• Imparting awareness to all sections of people on issues related to energy conservation.
• Upgrading the skills and capabilities of energy professionals through training on energy and environment management programmes.
• Facilitating exchange of energy experts between different regions within India and abroad.
• Collaborating with national and international organization, universities, research centers, regulatory bodies, funding agencies etc. involved in promotion of energy conservation and sustainable development, with a view to identifying, adopting or adopting and transferring of energy technologies relevant to the States.
• Instrumentalising energy systems, especially renewable energy package systems to improve the quality of life (increasing income and employment generation opportunities, health and emotional welfare) of the people, particularly the poor segment of the society who are deprived of electricity and other energy opportunities.
• Promoting comprehensive energy planning and management through co-operative movement and institution development, providing grass root level opportunity to the people for shaping an energy system which help achieve all round quality of life and sustainable development.
• Performing such other functions as desired by the Government or are relevant to the objectives of the Centre.