Coimbatore: Sustainable energy has been the talk of the town ever since 'Global Warming' became the buzzword everywhere. However, questions are being raised against the under-utilization of resources like windmills which are an effective way of providing sustainable energy and supporting the growing power requirements of Tamil Nadu.
Coimbatore: Sustainable energy has been the talk of the town ever since 'Global Warming' became the buzzword everywhere. However, questions are being raised against the under-utilization of resources like windmills which are an effective way of providing sustainable energy and supporting the growing power requirements of Tamil Nadu.
With the onset of the southwest monsoon, the windmills which have been set up in large numbers in the Western belt of the State is capable of producing a huge quantity of power. But the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation is utilizing just half of its actual capacity, while continuing to depend on thermal plants for generation of power for the State, according to the Indian Wind Power Association.
Speaking to Simplicity, K Kasthurirangan, Chairman, Indian Wind Power Association opined that most of the energy that could have been generated during the monsoon is being wasted since TANGEDCO was taking the windmills off the grid. "There are 12,000 windmills in the State which are capable of generating 9,300 MW of power. A maximum number of windmills in Coimbatore and adjoining districts, which face good southwest monsoon winds can turn the turbines to generate energy. While the State requires 320 million units per day, we are capable of generating 120 million units per day. However, they take away the windmills off the grid and utilize only an average of around 50 to 60 million units, which is half the capacity,” added Kasthurirangan who lamented that this was great injustice to wind generators.
Kasthurirangan further opined that TANGEDCO should take up the scientific pursuit to understand and generate energy from the wind. “They should have real-time generation sharing which is the need of the hour. But they are not cooperating, and instead closing down the substation at their will. Together, both TANGEDCO and IWPA can accomplish a lot and with little effort, a lot of power can be generated," he added.
"TANGEDCO is purchasing thermal power at Rs.4.5 paise per unit while they are paying just Rs.3.5 paise per unit to wind generators. It is the cheapest energy that they can buy and is free of pollution unlike thermal. Not using the wind power to its full potential is a loss to the generators and the State," he noted.
When contacted, a senior TANGEDCO official on conditions of anonymity said, "About 1,400 MW of energy produced through the windmills is being utilized here, depending on the grid capacity." The official admitted that the windmills were being under-utilized but refused to reveal the reason behind it.