Focus on increasing wind, solar power generation in Seema

Anantapur: New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation (NREDCAP), which is promoting green energy on a massive scale was instrumental in producing 1,460 MW of wind power and 457.9 MW of solar power by the end of 2016-17 financial year.

Highlights:

• NTPC signs a MoU with the State government for establishing a 1,000 MW solar power generation plant at NP Kunta near Kadiri
• With this the wind and solar power generation touches 3,000 MW
• Developers are looking forward for new solar power policy to set up their units

National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) which signed a MoU with the State government for establishing a 1,000 MW solar power generation plant at NP Kunta near Kadiri had already been producing 250 MW in the first phase. This apart 4 other developers who set up solar plants are producing 41.9 MW bringing the total to 291.9 MW. On the wind power front as on March 31, 2017, 62 promoters were producing 1,460 MW. Including the old and new projects put together, the wind power being produced in what is called the green corridor is 2,235 MW.

According to NREDCAP District Manager Kodandarama Murthy, the developers are looking forward for new solar power policy as the current policy in vogue lapses this year. The new policy is expected to give a further fillip to already growing demand for green energy worldwide.

Dubbed as green corridor, Rayalaseema particularly Kurnool and Anantapur will have a total power generation of 3,000 MW, 1,000 MW in Kurnool and 2,000 MW in Anantapur district.

The expansion of existing power plants is taking place in various mandals including Axis Wind Farm by 100 MW in Kuderu, Green Co at Saipuram by 100 MW, Skiron Energy at Polthuru by 226 MW, Ostro Energy by 200 MW in Kambaduru and Future Energy at Chennanpalle by 100 MW and two other projects contributing to another 200 MW.

AP Genco has plans to set up a 500 MW solar power plant at NP Kunta. These projects altogether would contribute to 1,000 MW of wind power and solar production by 500 MW.

Presently NREDCAP is engaged in overseeing of establishment of Power Pooling Station (PPS) at Kambaduru, Madancheruvu and Borampalle to facilitate grid connection so that the power pooled from sub-stations could be transferred to 220 kv sub-station at Borampalle and from there to 400 kv sub-station at Uravakonda.

Kodandarama Murthy told The Hans India, that 30 years ago AP was brushed aside as a ‘no wind state’ but today it was producing 2,000 mw of wind power out of the Centre’s national target of 10,000 mws. Normally the minimum specification is 150 watts of wind power density per square metre area.

Modern machinery has enabled the power producers, who are generating 10 lakh units in Ramagiri area, now able to double power generation to 18 lakh units. Among the several players, Suzlon group, Gamesha, Inox, Wind World, Regen Power Tech, General Engineering, Tata and BHEL are major ones. The district is producing nearly 3,000 mw of power including old and new solar and wind projects In Kalyandurg, Uravakonda, Kadiri and Ramagiri regions.

The wind power projects commissioned up to March 2015 were producing 792.94 mw while in the post 2015-16 another 401.10 MW production had been added.

Andhra Sugars of industrialist Mullapaudi Harischandra Prasad was the first to set up a 3 mw wind power project at Ramagiri, followed by many others groups including BHEL, APSRTC, Navabharath Group, Deccan Cements, Rayalaseema Paper Mills, BSM Spinning Mills, Priyadarshini and ILFS groups and producing altogether 51.74 mw and supplying the same to Power Grid.

By Ravi P Benjamin