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The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board has cut back on wind power evacuation in the last three days leaving significant wind generation capacity unutilised.
According to TNEB data, wind power consumption is down to about 39 million units (MUs) against more than 50 MUs last week. The drop in offtake comes at the start of the peak windy season when wind power producers expect to see peak revenues.
According to Mr K. Kasturirangaian, Chairman, Indian Wind Power Association, nearly half the wind mills in the State have been backed down on reduced demand. However, the nearly 10-12 million unit unutilised could support the industries' demand and help bring down the 20 per cent power cut that the HT consumers face.
However, due to a drop in demand, TNEB has ordered the backing down of wind mills as power generation from the wind energy generators affects the grid frequency.
The decision by TNEB, he said, coming at the start of the windy season which is expected to last for the next two months, hits wind producers hard. With a wind energy tariff ranging around Rs 2.75 a unit to about Rs 3.39, the loss in revenue is huge if about 10 MUs are left unutilised daily, he said.
Since wind energy output can be relied up on at least up to October, the State utility should draw the power, he said.
On TNEB paying off wind energy dues to the wind power producers, he said TNEB has paid the September 2010 dues but still owes them the payments for the last nine months, which could amount to over Rs 1,500 crore.
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