Tn To Add 5,000mw Of Wind Power By The End Of 2023, Says Energy Secretary

(This story originally appeared in on Oct 06, 2023)

Chennai: Tamil Nadu will add another 5,000 MW to the installed capacity of wind power in the state by the end of 2023, in a bid to regain the first spot, the state lost to Gujarat, said state energy secretary Beela Rajesh on Thursday. The state will also come up with the policy to repower the old wind turbines, she said.

On the second day of the Windergy conference and trade fair in the city, she told manufacturers of wind turbines and allied products, that of the 5,000 MW, about 4,400 MW would be installed by new private players, while 600MW will be an expansion of existing windmill owners.

Tamil Nadu currently has 10,225 MW wind energy as installed capacity. In May, Gujarat surpassed Tamil Nadu with an installed capacity of 10,890 MW. “Wind power is a success in the state is because of people’s participation. About 65% of wind energy produced is for captive use. Or it can be sold directly to other industries. Tangedco buys just 35% of wind power,” said Rajesh official.

The official said that wind turbine manufacturers are not just doing business, but are contributing effectively to process of combating climate change. “Suggestions from the conference to aid policy making,” she said.

In the panel discussion that preceded, P R Muralidharan of Leap Green insisted that quick ramping up and ramping down of thermal stations and precise forecasting are some of the factors that will tap the true potential of wind energy.

UB Reddy, managing director of Enerfra Projects India, said that union ministry’s repowering policy ignored the ground reality. “Unless land-pooling is adopted, repowering of windmills in Tamil Nadu will not materialise,” he said.Ajay Jain, senior advisor, Corio Generation, said, offshore wind is not competing with the wind farms on land. “In fact, both should collaborate as we are ultimately fighting against fossil fuel,” he said.