Karnataka Boosts Renewable Energy Innovation Through Industry-Academia Partnerships.

State partners with IIM Bangalore, IISc and UNSW Sydney to establish incubation centres, while preparing a 2 GW solar tender with battery storage.   Karnataka is strengthening industry-academia collaboration to accelerate innovation and develop skilled talent in the renewable energy sector through dedicated incubation centres and student internship programmes. Speaking at the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026, Divya Prabhu, Managing Director of Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd (KREDL), said the agency has partnered with IIM Bangalore, IISc Bangalore and the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, to establish Renewable Energy Incubation Centres. The initiative will also support internships for 200 students across colleges in India. Meanwhile, Karnataka is adopting a substation-oriented approach to renewable energy development, with 27 substations identified by Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation (KPTCL) for dedicated clean energy projects. Prabhu also announced plans to float a tender for 2 GW of solar power capacity combined with 1 GWh of battery energy storage under the Pavagada model, strengthening the state's focus on reliable, dispatchable renewable energy.