The Hindu Business Line : Kerala: Move to set up wind farms in private lands

IN a bid to tap non-conventional energy sources, Agency for Non-Conventional Energy and Rural Technology (ANERT) is in the process of setting up wind farms in private lands in various parts of the State to generate a total of 600 MW of power, said Mr S. Girijathmajan, Director, ANERT.

It had identified 16 sites having wind characteristics suitable for economic exploitation to set up wind farms for the development of wind power in the State through private developers.

To begin with, ANERT, the nodal agency will set up a demonstration project to generate 2 mw of power at Ramakkalmedu in Idukki District at an estimated investment of Rs21 crore in association with the Kerala State Electricity Board for the purpose. Palakkad and Thiruvananthapuram districts are identified for setting up other wind farms in the State.

The ANERT Director, who was here in connection with one-day seminar on `Role of Stakeholders in Popularisation of Renewable Energy Options' told reporters that Ramakkalmedu, with an estimated potential of generating 80 MW of power, is identified as the most potential site in the State. It is one of the best sites available in the country for developing wind power.

ANERT and KSEB are jointly setting up the project. Feasibility studies on the project are over and the project would be commissioned by next year, he said.

Referring to wind farms in the State, he pointed out that at present Kerala has got only one such project at Kanjikode in Palakkad. Studies in this regard revealed that there is a huge potential of generating 600 MW power from wind energy.

Of the total 6095 mw power potential, he said that contribution from the non-conventional sources was only 5.5 per cent. Efforts are on to increase the share of non-conventional sources by 30 per cent.

Earlier participating in the discussion, Dr P. Radhakrishna, Director, Regional Office, Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources, said that a scientific analysis in drafting new programmes is the need of the hour to enlarge the scope of renewable energy as a way of life in day-to-day activities.

He suggested revamping of state level co-ordination committees and thereby infusing more dynamism in order to achieve a contributory role of renewable energy in the country.

The priority of such committees is to focus on evaluating need based renewable energy programmes to the respective regions in a district or at large in the State.

The coming generation, he said should become renewable energy base society. To inoculate and sustain the concept, the Ministry has been conducting series of conferences promoting the emotional attachment of entrepreneurs, NGO's, educational institutions etc, he added.

He also suggested that accreditation should be granted to those higher learning institutions, which derive at least 30 per cent of their power requirements from renewable sources.

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