The results of measuring offshore wind potential in the Dhanushkodi region have been encouraging, according to the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE).
In its report on Offshore Wind Profile Measurement at Dhanushkodi, the NIWE said its assessment showed there was a good possibility of achieving over 45 per cent capacity utilisation factor for the offshore wind plants with the existing onshore turbine technology in the region. Capacity utilisation factor is the percentage of a power plant’s maximum potential that is actually achieved over a period of time.
With India’s long coastline, the government is planning to push development of offshore wind power projects. Last year, the government issued comprehensive guidelines for development of on-shore wind power projects in India.
Certain blocks in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu (especially in Rameswaram and Kanyakumari regions) coastline were identified to study the potential of offshore wind energy. The NIWE was assigned the task of doing the wind resource assessment in these areas.
The NIWE said in its report that it installed a 100-metre met mast at Dhanushkodi and monitored the wind data. It also pointed out that some studies concluded that there is a possibility to develop 1 gigawatt offshore power each at Rameswaram and Kanyakumari.
The institute added that it considers the results as an encouraging indication but prefers to monitor the wind measurement at Dhanushkodi for a longer period of time to generate concrete and bankable data sets, as offshore wind projects require huge investments.
