At a time when the State is reeling under acute power crisis, industrial units can make use of solar energy wherever possible for their electricity requirements that would not only help in cutting down their power tariff bills but also help in conserving electricity, P. Annadurai, Chief Engineer-Distribution, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation, Tiruchi region, said on Sunday.
Industries could conserve power in a big way by utilising energy efficient gadgets in their respective units, Mr. Annadurai said.
He was inaugurating the new building of Tiruchi District Tiny and Small Scale Industries’ Association (TIDITSSIA) on SIDCO industrial estate premises at Ariyamangalam in the city.
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Stating that the power shortage in Tamil Nadu would continue for six more months, Mr. Annadurai appealed to the electricity consumers to utilise power judiciously.
Industrial bodies such as the TIDITSSIA should create awareness among its member units on the ways to conserve power that would help in nation’s development.
Giving a brief overview of the power scenario in Tamil Nadu, he said: “Although the installed capacity was 10,500 mega watt, what we get was only around 8,500 to 9,000 mega watt. The deficit scenario was not a permanent phenomenon as the State government and the Tangedco have taken teps to address power shortage and turn Tamil Nadu into a power surplus State once again. The situation would greatly improve once the new thermal power plants set up in different parts of Tamil Nadu started generating electricity.” .
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The 500 mega watt thermal power plant at Vallur set up jointly by the National Thermal Power Corporation and the TNEB had just begun its operation, he said and added that the 600 mega watt thermal plant at Mettur had started functioning on a trial basis. The two 500 mega watt thermal power plants established at Tuticorin were expected to go on stream this year.
Alongside setting up new thermal power plants, the State government had decided to tap solar energy in a big way.
Towards this direction, the State government had launched the Tamil Nadu Solar Energy Policy 2012 to achieve energy security and generate 3,000 mega watt of solar energy by 2015, Mr. Annadurai said.
TIDITSSIA president S. Abdul Rasheed, Executive Director, TREC-STEP, Tiruchi RMP Jawahar, General Manager, District Industries Centre S. Kandasamy, and TANSTIA, Tiruchi region vice-president Rajappa Rajkumar participated.