Wind power generation touches new high at 5,070 MW in State

In the early hours of June 20, Tangedco evacuated 5,070 MW. The State’s installed wind energy capacity is 8,468 MW. “For the first time this year, wind power generation has crossed the 5,000 MW mark. In the past few days, there has been good wind due to the onset of South Westerly winds. The generation has been consistently touching 4,700 MW to 4,900 MW and even cross 5,000 MW,” said Indian Wind Power Association chairman K Kasthuri Rangaiyan.

On June 20, the State consumed 99.66 million units (MU) of wind energy as against the total consumption of 347 MU. Also, against the State consumption of 360 MU on June 19, the wind energy consumption stood at 95.44 MU.

A senior Tangedco official said that the wind power generation has accounted for 25 to 30 per cent of Tamil Nadu’s total power consumption. “If the solar power generation was taken into account, the renewable energy contribution to the State’s power consumption goes up to 35 per cent,” the official said.

A Coimbatore-based wind power generator said that though the evacuation of 5,000 MW wind power was a welcome one, Tangedco should not back down the windmills during the April-September peak season. “Even though the backing down of the windmills have come down drastically over the years, still windmills are taken off the grid at times. If all the windmills can generate power, we will be able to cross 5,000 MW generation quite frequently,” the generator said.