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N. Ramakrishnan

Tamil Nadu contributes bulk of capacity addition

Chennai , April 18

Installed wind power capacity grew by 45 per cent during 2005-06 over the previous year, the same level of growth that was recorded in 2004-05, show preliminary figures provided by wind turbine manufacturers.

However, turbine manufacturers hope that uniformity and consistency in policy will come about across the country so that capacity addition takes place at a faster pace.

It is estimated that the total installed wind power capacity in the country will be 5,200 MW at the end of March 2006, against 3,595 MW at the end of the previous financial year - an addition of 1,605 MW.

As in the past, Tamil Nadu has contributed to a bulk of this capacity addition accounting for nearly 870 MW during last financial year.

Growth to continue

Mr Ramesh Kymal, Managing Director, NEG Micon (India) Pvt Ltd, a wind turbine manufacturer, and Chairman, Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association, is confident that the growth in capacity addition will continue this year too and accelerate in subsequent years.

This is mainly because of the better turbines that are available in the market now, which not only guarantee higher plant load factors - 35-38 per cent - but also are efficient in low and medium wind regimes.

Evacuation

Mr Kymal and other industry sources say that evacuation still continues to be a problem, especially in Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board is trying to address this issue, they add.

Mr U.B. Reddy, General Manager - Business Development and Operations, Enercon India, another turbine manufacturer, says that the turbine manufacturers have requested the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission to permit an independent analysis of the grid requirement in the State.

The association has said that it is prepared to sponsor this study by the Bangalore-based Power Research & Development Consultants Pvt Ltd, which has developed a software for grid analysis.

According to him, such a study is needed to finalise the grid requirements in areas where large wind farms (about 150-200 MW installed capacity) are coming up, over the next five years.

This will help to plan ahead of the requirement so that evacuation does not become a problem.

Industry sources point out that there were local problems in Karnataka, with villagers blocking roads and interrupting work. This seems to have been sorted out to a large extent now.

The distribution companies in Karnataka have also started signing power purchase agreements now with investors in wind power, which is a positive development, according to the sources.

Wind power policy

As far as other States were concerned, the sources said wind power policy was due for a review in Maharashtra later this year and, hence, there was a rush for installations now.

Rajasthan, which is a small market for wind power, wheeling and transmission are the problem areas. There is potential for installing wind turbines in the desert region, where there is not much demand for power.

Those investing in wind power are being asked to pay Rs 17 lakh a MW for improving the grid and also construct sub-stations and connect them to the nearest high voltage evacuation point.

All this has pushed up the cost by Rs 25 lakh-30 lakh a MW, the sources said.

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