GMDC plans 50 MW wind power project for Rs 300 cr

State-run Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC) will set up a 50 Mega Watt (MW) wind power project in a bid to harness green energy potential, said, a senior GMDC official. The fresh addition will take the total capacity of wind power installation by GMDC in the state to 200 MW.

“GMDC will set up a 50 MW wind power project in the state to harness green energy potential,” said M Chattopadhyay, general manager (power), GMDC.

The total cost of the project, said Chattopadhyay, is estimated to be Rs 300 crore and the net generation from the project is expected to be 104.10 million units (MUs).

The project, he said, is expected to be commissioned by mid-2015. Following the completion of the project, GMDC will sign a long term power purchase agreement with Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) to supply energy, the official said.   

Chattopadhyay said, “The 50 MW wind power project to be installed by GMDC will not only take the overall capacity to 200 MW from wind power projects but also make GMDC the highest wind power generating Public Sector Unit (PSU) in the state.”

The GMDC website states that wind turbine generator of total 150 MW capacity have been installed at Malliya, Jodiya, Gorsar, Bada, Varvala and Bhanwad in Gujarat.

When asked about similar plans in solar power sector, he said, “We are evaluating plans for more projects but will finalise based on our financial capabilities.”

GMDC, currently, has 5 MW of solar power capacity, installed at Panandhro in Kutch.

The installed capacity of wind power in India is 21,141.36 MW till March 2014, according to numbers posted on the website of Indian Wind Energy Association (IWEA).

India is ranked 5th in the world in terms of installed wind power capacity.

Of this, the installed capacity of wind power in Gujarat is 3,447.28 MW. Tamil Nadu with 7,275.78 MW and Maharashtra with 4064.95 MW are the two states with the highest installed capacity of wind power in the country.

Net profit of GMDC for the quarter ended June 2014 rose by close to 10 per cent to Rs 130.54 crore from Rs 118.67 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year.

Total income from operations increased from Rs 370.09 crore in the first quarter of June 2013 to Rs 423.87 crore for the quarter ended June 2014.