In a first, wind turbines planned off Dhanushkodi

A team of officials from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy headed by its Joint Secretary, Bhanu Pratap Yadav, and K Balaraman, Director General, National Institute of Wind Energy, Chennai, carried out an inspection in Dhanushkodi along with Ramanathapuram Collector, S Natarajan. 

The officials inspected the coastal stretch from Mukuntharayarchathiram to Arichalmunai in Dhanushkodi. 

Addressing the media after the inspection, Bhanu Pratap Yadav said that for the first time in the country, the central government has sanctioned setting up of offshore wind turbines near the coast of Dhanushkodi and the inspection was carried out to choose the spot where the turbines could be set up. 

Four or five offshore turbines would be installed along the coast and each will have a capacity of 6–10 MW. One single turbine can power the entire Rameswaram town and will also provide the much-needed economic fillip to the region. 

However, the environmental impact assessment should be done before setting up the wind turbines, said Yadav. 

Balaraman said that so far in the country wind turbines have been set up only on land but for the first time, turbines would be installed in the sea. A 350-metre tower was set up in Arichalmunai to study the speed and other characters of the wind four years ago and since then, the study was conducted. The study found that favourable conditions prevailed in Dhanushkodi and due to the high wind speed, power of 500 watts per square meter can be produced.  

The conditions were favourable for the setting up of offshore turbines at a cost of Rs 300 to Rs 400 crore to the government, said Balaraman.