Need for Karnataka Renewable Energy Policy 2021- 2026 Karnataka is among the leading States in Renewable Energy (RE) sector in the country with a RE generation capacity of about 15,130 MW1 .The State has achieved its stature through its effective Policy ,programs and implementation. The State is endowed with RE potential which includes solar, wind, solar-wind hybrid, biomass, co-generation, Waste to energy, small hydro and other renewable energies that makes Karnataka a favorable destination for RE investments in India. Karnataka has about 86,792 MW2 of estimated RE potential, making it one of the country’s top five renewable rich States. Karnataka is the first southern State in India to notify “Karnataka Renewable Energy Policy 2009-14” in 2009 to harness green, clean renewable energy sources for environmental benefits and energy security. The Policy initiatives have enabled the State to achieve the capacity addition of 2,014 MW during the 5 years of Policy period. Further, to harness the potential of solar resources in the State, Government of Karnataka had published Solar Policy vide GO no EN 61 NCE 2011 for the period 2011-2016, and subsequently the Policy had been amended and published as “Karnataka Solar Policy 2014-21” vide GO no EN 21 VSC 2014 for the period 2014-2021.Karnataka Solar Policy 2014-21 had targeted for development of 6,000 MW solar capacity by 2021 and the State has surpassed the target with a solar installed capacity of 7,389 MW as on March 2021. In order to further harness, the potential of RE in the State, the Karnataka Renewable Energy Policy 2021-2026 has been envisaged by the Government of Karnataka. As RE become cheaper generation source for electricity in India (especially solar and wind energy), efforts are being made to initiate gradual replacement of existing conventional power generation capacities with renewable power generation capacities. The key advantage of conventional power generation is high Plant Load Factor (PLF), firmness and flexibility in power supply. In order to have same attractiveness, RE sources shall have these three attributes and the Karnataka Renewable Energy Policy 2021-2026 may promote such RE projects like solar-wind hybrid with energy storage or any other renewable energy with storage system which shall provide high PLF, firmness and flexibility in supply.