Wind power not good despite southwest monsoon onset

Although parts of southern districts in the State have begun to receive monsoon rains since a couple of days now, winds have not picked up on expected lines.

Last year, winds blowing in by May-end helped pick up power generation gradually and catered to the growing needs of consumers, according to the Tirunelveli Circle of Non-Conventional Energy Sources, TANGEDCO.  

With a power generation capacity of over 8,400 MW via wind energy in the State, Tirunelveli Circle is one of the major contributors, catering to around 70 percent of energy sourced from renewables to meet the electricity consumption demand of consumers in the State.

Monsoon currents this year, however, have been erratic since the onset. While 49 million units of wind energy were recorded after its generation from turbines on June 8, it went down to 32 million units on June 9 and dipped further to 25 million units owing to heavy undulation in wind patterns, sources told DT Next on Tuesday. The average power output from wind generation would hence be around 4,000 MW a day.

Moreover, solar power derived from photovoltaic panels, has also witnessed a decline in output since Saturday. Due to rain clouds, the solar panels were less efficient than on clear and sunny days in converting energy. Solar power capacity in the State is around 2,700 MW.

Contrary to the declining generation of renewable energy, electricity consumption demand has increased gradually in the State in recent days. Electricity consumption touched 13,893 MW on June 10 (Monday). The State’s daily average consumption demand is around 15,000 MW, but it rose to an all-time high of 16,151 MW this year on April 3. Its previous highest was 15,273 MW last year, sources said.

However, in what could add to the wind energy capacity, a 200 MW wind power substation is all set to come up at Villisery in Thoothukudi district in a few months, sources said.