Tamil Nadu is a leader in wind energy and this has to be replicated in sectors such as solar and bio-mass, said speakers at a conference on ‘Mainstreaming Green Energy – wind, biomass and solar' on Thursday.
Delivering the keynote address, Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TNEDA), Chairman and Managing Director, R. Christodas Gandhi said, “Tamil Nadu has been playing a key role in renewable energy. We have nearly reached 100 per cent of our wind mill potential. Out of the 5,000 MW assessed in the State, we have an installed capacity of 4,889 MW as of March 2010. This accounts for 30 per cent of renewable energy installed capacity in the country and its contribution to the southern grid is 11 per cent.”
Mr. Gandhi said, “It is not going to end here as we have exhausted only 26 out of 41 sites in the State. We are now stepping into the second stage of wind mill development. The scope is more to go forward. We are yet to explore the issue of raising the height of wind mill mast, installing it offshore and along the coast. We will now replicate our success in solar side too.”
Poultry waste
In his special address, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) Secretary Deepak Gupta said around 10 MW was generated through poultry waste, while 150 MW could be generated through units based in Namakkal and Salem districts.
Responding to the call, TNEDA officials said steps were being taken to establish 60 to 100 units this year to produce energy from poultry waste-based power projects. Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Farooq Abdullah said, “We also should think of installing wind mill where wind is there. Industrialists should think of transporting the equipment to far-flung places. Unless we do this, we cannot be masters in wind energy.” Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry, General Committee member, T. Shivaraman said to sustain the growth and to keep the environment clean, one should adopt more and more of renewable energy.
