Govt to increase wind power purchase rate

It further gives the much-needed impetus to the research and development (R&D) and manpower development in wind power in the energy management education curriculum.

The policy will remain operative up to June 30,2012,and wind turbine generators (WTGs) installed and

commissioned during

this period will be eligible for the incentives declared under it for a period of 20 years from the date of commissioning.

Announcing the policy,Minister of State for Energy Saurabh Patel said: “At present,the state has the third highest wind power generation capacity of 1,380 MW in the country,which is only 13 per cent of the total potential of 9,675 MW of wind energy in Gujarat.”

Patel said that power from WTGs commissioned from April 1,2009 could be sold to the state utility — Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited — and any distribution licensee within the state at the proposed rate of Rs 3.50 per unit after approval of tariff by the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission.