Fani may hit coal stocks from Odisha, but wind energy can bail out Tamil Nadu

“We expect coal supply to be hit in the coming days from Odisha due to the cyclone. But we have enough coal storage to continue power generation because the thermal power stations are being operated at 50 per cent of their capacity in the wake of picking up of wind power generation,” a senior Tangedco official said.

The total coal required for Tangedco’s thermal power plant is approximately 72,000 metric tonnes per day which is 20 rakes per day. Each rake is made up of 58 wagons and has a capacity of 3,750 tonnes. Thermal power stations in the state source the domestic coal from Talcher and IB Valley in Odisha besides coal fields in West Bengal and Chhattisgarh. “We usually get seven to eight rakes of coal from Odisha on a daily basis,” the official said.

At present, the thermal power plants have coal storage to meet the requirements for 12 to 15 days. “Since our plants are running at 50 per cent of its capacity due to high wind power generation, we will be able to meet the thermal plant’s coal requirements for the next 30 days with the present storage,” the official said, noting that they would also get the shipment of imported coal with a capacity of 3-3.5 lakh MT a month. 

From May 1, the wind power generation has picked up in the state and it consistently crossing 3000 MW said Indian Wind Power Association Chairman K Kasthurirangaiyan. On Thursday, wind power generated 89 million units while the solar produced 12 MU. The two renewable sources together accounted for nearly one-third of the state’s total energy consumption of 328 MU, he said, adding, “In the days to come, we expect more generation of wind power.”

The generation from Tangedco’s thermal power plant was 88.59 MU on April 30 while the wind and the solar combined generation was 

32.95 MU. On May 2, the wind and solar generation have gone up to 101 MUs while the thermal generation was down to 53.13 MU.