Tamil Nadu got a windfall from cyclonic storm Laila, as wind power generation received a big boost after ‘Laila' swept through the State from the Bay of Bengal.
The production from wind mills picked up to such an extent that the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board lifted load shedding in most parts of the State.
On Friday morning (around 7.50 a.m.), the quantum of load shedding was about 340 megawatt (MW). Exactly 10 days ago, it was 1,406 MW. An official of the TNEB said three-hour load shedding was effected only in some parts of the State.
Going by the data on wind power generation, the production in the State was 23 MW on May 11 which went up to 534 MW four days later. On Tuesday evening, it rose to 2,358 MW and on the next day morning, it was 1,848 MW.
On Friday morning, it was 1,114 MW.
Fluctuation in generation
The official said that there were signs of the wind power stabilising at 1,300 MW. Till Thursday, the generation was fluctuating from 200 MW to 1,200 MW.
The wind energy installed capacity in the State is about 4,600 MW, of which private wind mills account for 4,582 MW.
Thanks to the cyclone-associated rainfall, the demand also came down by 1,000 MW to 1,500 MW. On Friday morning, the peak demand was 7,825 MW.
As regards power purchased from different sources, including the open market, the TNEB has surrendered power to the tune of 1,300 MW to 1,500 MW. This has resulted in net savings of about Rs.9 crore a day.
Asked whether the board would consider lifting load shedding permanently, the official replied that the decision would be taken after a thorough study of the situation. On the days of heavy rainfall, the board might not have to resort to load shedding.
K. Kasthurirangaian, president of the Indian Wind Power Association, urged the board to lift the three-hour daily load shedding and evacuate the wind energy generated fully.
At least for three hours a day, the wind energy generated was not evacuated now, he said.
