The Hindu Business Line : Explore offshore wind farms along coastline: Kalam

Power strategy
Tap the country's over 7,000-km-long coastline.
Develop wind energy plants that would let farmers lift water.
Standardise wind turbine power plants and undertake R & D to cut investment per MW.

MR A.P.J. ABDUL KALAM

New Delhi , Nov. 6

Even as India invited participation from global industry players for its proposed special economic zone for renewable energy, the President, Mr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam,today suggested several steps to improve the share of wind energy in the country's fuel-mix which include exploring setting up of offshore wind farms along the coastline, and research and development in the sector to bring down the cost of generation.

President call

The President also called for setting up autonomous wind generating units in islands and remote areas through public-private partnerships, within three years, if those sites have wind potential.

The present potential of wind energy in the country has been worked out to be 45,000MW.

"Studies must be launched to explore other potential sources such as off-shore wind farms, especially since the country has over 7,000-km-long coastline," Mr Kalam said here today while inaugurating the Fifth World Wind Energy Conference.

Additionally, he suggested developing a wind energy plant that would let farmers lift water.

Lifting Water

"Feasibility studies may be conducted to determine the economic sizes of wind energy plants which can be used for lifting water from 30-meter level and serve the needs of farmer having small holdings in a region with an average wind speed of 8 to 10 km per hour," he said.

To bring down costs, he said companies should standardise the wind turbine power plants and undertake research and development to reduce the investment per MW.

"I understand that the generation cost at present is between Rs 2.5 and Rs 3.5 per unit depending upon the site. Research is required to bring down this cost to Rs 1-2 per unit, based on improved designs and maintenance-free systems," the President said, adding that wind energy can be introduced as an M. Tech. programme in the country's engineering institutions.

SEZs

Pointing out that India was in the process of establishing a special economic zone housing manufacturing units for renewable energy, such as wind turbine makers, the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Mr Vilas Muttemwar, invited participation from global renewable energy industry.

"This special economic zone will create world class infrastructure and provide a platform for technology providers and manufacturers to showcase their renewable energy products to potential customers," Mr Muttemwar said.

He added that India was aiming to add 12,000 MW of wind electricity capacity in the next six years.

India currently has a wind power capacity of about 6,070 MW.