India ranks only behind Germany, the United States, Denmark and Spain, in the production of wind power. And the recent hike in Central budgetary support for the renewable energy sector has added more wind to the sails of this sector. The first Wind Test Centre in the country in Kayathar, in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu, that was recently inaugurated by the Prime Minister, is therefore significant. It will standardise, test and certify wind turbines in India. Earlier, these tests were conducted by RISO, Denmark.One of the biggest drawbacks in the development of wind energy in India has been the inability of successive governments to formulate a comprehensive policy on renewable energy. Meanwhile, per capita electricity consumption in India - which was only 15 units in 1947 - is currently estimated at 400 units. With the gap between demand and supply continuing to widen, many states in the country are facing a chronic shortage of power. This is where renewable energy can play a major role.Experts feel that just as the last two centuries were driven by coal and oil, the present one will belong to renewable energy. The steep hike in the price of fossil fuels and the high pollution levels they entail, will only encourage this process. Renewables are environmentally-friendly and offer scope for diversifying energy supply. Besides, their costs have declined over the years, even as their efficiency and reliability have grown apace.It's worth noting here that India's wind energy capacity alone has been estimated at a whopping 45,000 MW, according to a recent study. As of now, 70 per cent of country's renewable energy comes from windmills. The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, in association with the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES), had conducted an extensive wind monitoring programme to identify potential sites throughout the country where average wind speed exceeds 18kmph.For the effective working of a wind farm, the annual mean wind power density should be at least 150 watts per sq metre at 30 metres height. The study identified 39 potential places in Tamil Nadu, 28 in Gujarat, six in Orissa, 16 in Maharashtra, 25 in Andhra Pradesh, eight in Rajasthan, five in Lakshadeweep, 14 in Karnataka, 10 in Kerala, five in Madhya Pradesh, two in West Bengal, and one each in the Andamans & Nicobar and Uttar Pradesh.In the late 1980s, following the setting up of demonstration farms by the MNES, various State Electricity Boards installed pilot wind farms with 55 and 75kw capacities. This attracted the attention of private entrepreneurs too.More recently, the Central government - through the MNES - announced a package of incentives for the sector, including 100 per cent accelerated depreciation in income tax assessment in the first year of operation, a five-year tax holiday, soft loans from the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency under project financing and equipment financing schemes and customs and excise duty relief.Several states, too, followed suit by announcing attractive subsidies, power buy-back schemes at Rs. 2.25 per unit, sales tax exemptions and so on. Tamil Nadu took the lead in attracting major industries and now the state is ahead of all the rest in generating wind energy. Against a potential of 900mw, the state has an installed capacity of 806mw. The table provided here (the 20,000mw potential shown is according to the initial study) shows ample proof of the general apathy the other states have demonstrated on the issue of popularising wind energy.In Tamil Nadu, however, in places like Kayathar, Muppanthal, and Coimbatore, many of the industrial giants in the country have wind farms with varied capacities. They generate power here and supply it to the State Electricity Board and receive, in turn, 98 per cent power from the Board wherever they need it. Though giant Wind Electric Generators (WEGs) with 1650kw and 2mw capacity are available, those popular in India are in the range of 500kw and 600kw.Now India has an installed capacity of 1185mw against the world total of 13,000mw. The World Energy Council has estimated that the world wind power capacity will touch 53 gw in 2010, under the current policy scenario. If India makes the right moves now, the country could well be a world leader in wind power generation over the next 10 years.One worrying factor is that only 23-27 per cent of wind power generated in various states reach the National Grid. Many of the wind farms that were set up initially in India are now non-functional owing to the unavailability of spare parts. Promoters are worried because the manufacturers themselves have stopped the production of small turbines and turbine parts. The government should sanction import licence to these firms on the condition that they ensure a continuous flow of spare parts.Apart from functioning as mere agents for private sector wind mills, State Electricity Boards should be encouraged to set up major farms with the latest technology on their own. Steps can be taken to upgrade existing low capacity turbines as well. The government should also insist that all major polluting industrial units be forced to instal wind farms in viable areas.There is a great deal that has to be done to make this sector economically viable, but the rewards from such an initiative would be immeasurable.Readers can send feedback to focus@expressindiacom.
