The Tamil Nadu government is pushing for a new central policy to promote offshore wind energy.
The state, which stands to benefit the most by any development on the wind energy front, is keenly awaiting guidelines from the ministry of new and renewable energy for an early action plan to develop the sector.
“The Union ministry for renewable energy has formulated a committee to look at tapping offshore wind energy, which we are expecting to be ready in the next 45 days.
This will give a big boost to Tamil Nadu, ” said Mr Sudeep Jain, chairman of Tamil Nadu Energy Development Authority while speaking at the renewable energy conference “REaction” organised by TEDA along with Energy Association of India.
The other potential renewable energy sources in the state include ocean, hydel and tidal energies, he added.
Among the key challenges for wind energy players in the state, Mr Jain said, were technology, finance, regulation and social related issues. Highlighting this, Indian Wind Power Association recently sought a common wind energy policy, especially for wheeling and banking charges, across all states.
It also sought incentives from the state and funds from the Centre’s Clean Energy Fund to tide over its financial crisis.
Currently Tamil Nadu accounts for 36 per cent of the country’s total renewable energy installation. On the wind energy front, the state accounts for 41 per cent of the entire country’s generation and has an investment of over Rs2,500 crore in the sector with an ability to produce 8,000 MW of electricity through wind energy. There are also proposals to add 10,800 MW of more wind power in the state by various investors.
The chief minister’s Vision 2023 document has also envisaged an addition of 10,000 MW of renewable energy capacity including 5,000 MW solar power in the next 11 years. “The state is right on track to achieve this, including 3,000 MW of solar by 2015-16,” Mr Jain assured.