CEA calls for stakeholder meet over cutting back green energy

“Growth of energy generation from renewable sources in the country was less during the high renewable energy season during April-October as compared to previous years even after addition of new RE capacity. One of the possible reasons for this, as reported by Indian Wind Power Association, is curtailment instructions issued by State Load Dispatch Centres (SLDCs),” CEA said in a notice.

To monitor the validated curtailment data and make efforts for optimum utilisation of renewable energy, it said it is required that a mechanism to collect curtailment data on monthly basis is evolved in consultation with stakeholders. A meeting with renewable power association and developers has been scheduled to be held under the chairmanship of member (planning), CEA on January 7 in New Delhi. It asked the stakeholders to provide the curtailment data for the April to October this year.

A wind power generator in the State said that the windmills across the state faced large scale curtailment to the tune of 20 per cent of power generation. “The wind mills were curtailed from generating power during the peak wind season from May to September,” the generator said, adding that the windmills in the state has generated 9267 million units (MU) between April and October this year as against 9647 MU in the corresponding period last fiscal. In 2017-18, the windmills produced 11,027 MU while in 2016-17 it stood at 10,927 MU.

Wind power generation fell despite an expansion in installed capacity. As of October, this year, the installed capacity of windmills in the State stood at 8,969 MW when compared to 8,312 MW last year. The Indian Wind Power Association has written to the chairman and managing director of TANGEDCO and Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy over the curtailment of the wind power generation in the States like Tamil Nadu.