The AP-Transco’s renewable energy evacuation scheme under the Power-for-All (PFA) programme, which is capable of transmitting 1,000 MW of wind energy from the generating stations to the grid, is going to give a fillip to the fledgeling wind power sector.
Besides, according to official sources, the AP-Transco has laid a 400-KV line from Jammalamadugu in Kadapa district to Uravakonda in Anantapur and is in the process of laying another line of the same capacity from Uravakonda to Hindupur, both under its Green Energy Corridor programme planned to evacuate 3,150 MW in Anantapur, Kadapa and Kurnool districts at an estimated cost of ₹3,375 crore.
These major infrastructure works are required to facilitate the growth of the wind energy sector from its cumulative installed capacity of nearly 4,059 MW as at the end of October 2018. Andhra Pradesh has got the highest capacity addition in five years of nearly 2,190 MW in 2016-17. With a substantial production of wind energy, the State is able to meet around 22% (Renewable Power Purchase Obligation) of its total energy requirement through renewable sources as against just 1.85% during 2013-14.
Big players
Coming to the specifics of the wind energy sector, leading manufacturers such as Suzlon, Gamesa and ReGen have set up their units in the Rayalaseema region and more players are being roped in.
A senior official of the New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of A.P. told The Hindu that the wind power potential of the State was estimated by the National Institute of Wind Energy to be about 44,230 MW at 100-metre level.
To achieve synergies, the State is promoting wind-solar hybrid projects on a large scale to utilise the common infrastructure and achieve better grid stability. For this, Wind - Solar Hybrid Power Policy-2018 has just been released.
