With all set for the next windy season in the State, wind energy generation has started picking up.
On Monday evening, the wind energy generated was 3002 MW and on Tuesday morning it was 845 MW. With 53.802 million units of wind energy consumption, the contribution of wind energy to total consumption was 17 %, said K. Kasthurirangaian, chairman of Indian Wind Power Association.
The State has a total installed wind energy capacity of 7,685 MW. Last year (2016-17), just about 262 MW was added in the State. The capacity addition was higher in states such as Andhra Pradesh. However, evacuation has improved in Tamil Nadu and during the last financial year, contribution of wind energy to total energy consumed in the State went up to 40 % during the peak wind season. The winds started in March last year and went on till November. Hence, generation was high in 2016-17, he said.
This year, winds started picking up in the first week of April and wind energy generation has steadily increased. It will fluctuate till the end of May and the peak season will start in June, he said. Majority of the wind energy investors in the State are industries who have wind mills for captive use. “We continue to appeal to the Government to continue with the banking option as it wind energy that gives us a competitive edge in costs,” he said.
