THOOTHUKUDI
The abnormal increase in wind energy generation has reduced dependence on thermal energy to a certain level. In order to make the best use of the non-conventional energy source, the fourth unit of Tuticorin Thermal Power Station (TTPS) was kept on standby on Tuesday evening.
The TTPS has five units, each with a production capacity of 210 MW. Production from the fourth unit was suspended following a direction from the load despatch centre, sources told The Hindu here on Thursday. The other units, however, continued to generate power in full swing, they added.
Over the last four days, wind energy was considerably high under TANGEDCO’s Tirunelveli Circle of Non-Conventional Energy Source. Places like Aralvaimozhi, Shencotta, Muppandal, Kayathar, Eppodhumvendran, Tenkasi, Radhapuram, Vadakkankulam and Kudankulam had a good potential to generate wind energy.
The wind mills functioning in these areas had a total capacity of 6,000 MW. Within just a few days after the beginning of the season, wind flow got strong in these areas.
On Sunday, about 2,000 MW was realised from the wind mills in this circle.
Sources said since the beginning of the wind energy season, the average daily production had been 1,200 MW.
But, the generation doubled to 2,400 MW on Tuesday, and touched 2,500 MW on Thursday. During the peak season in July, around 3,500 MW of wind energy might be generated every day, sources added.
