Tap Wind Energy for Power Generation
REPORT ON Date: 28-04-2008

Inaugurating the first wind farm project of Kerala launched with private participation at Ramakkalmedu in Idukki district, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said that non conventional energy holds the key for Kerala’s development in the energy sector. Wind farms are a major source of electricity for the State still waiting to be tapped on a large scale. The State has to explore non conventional energy sources in a big way to meet the increasing future demand for power.

The Government aims at generating 100 MW electricity from wind power in two years. The Ramakkalmedu scheme would generate 10.5 M.W power. The Government is sworn to tap all non-conventional sources for generating power. Technology for generating power even from garbage has been developed. Government has held fruitful discussion with France in this regard.

Dedicating the Ramakkarmedu project to the State Chief Minister revealed that the studies conducted by ANERT (Agency for Non Conventional Energy and Rural Technology) showed that 650 MW could be produced using wind energy in the State. However, it took two decades for ANERT to study the wind pattern and submit a report on the potential of wind farm as an alternative source of power generation. Seventeen places have been identified for setting up wind farms. Ramakkalmedu is the second most suitable place in the country for setting up wind farms and the availability of vast barren land there shows the tremendous untapped potential existing there for power generation. Government would give sanction to any project by an individual to set up wind units in his land with ANERT clearance. Another wind farm project aimed at 16 MW production is under way at Agali in Palakkad district. The total production of wind energy would reach 50 MW with the completion of 20 turbines at Ramakkalmedu. All the 14 wind units already completed at Ramakkalmedu have started power supply to the KSEB’s Kallar substation through a 917 km transmission line.