Ports to set up wind mills

The two major ports in Chennai and Tuticorin are planning to set up wind mills to cater their power requirements. The two ports are planning to invest around Rs 82 crore.

Speaking to Business Standard, Chennai Port Trust chairman Subhash Kumar said the port is planning to set up a 7.5 mega watt wind farm at Veppiliankulam, Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu. The port has called for a bid to set up the farm. “We are hoping that we can place the order for the wind mills by December.”

He added, the project would require 11-12 acres and the total project cost is estimated to be around Rs 40.73 crore. Kumar noted, the farm would cater to 50 per cent of the port’s power requirements which is around 15 Mw per annum presently. According to Kumar, the port would save around Rs 8 crore, on power, every year by setting up its own farm. Production cost would be Rs 2 per KwH and saving would be Rs 4 per KwH. G J Rao, chairman, Tuticorin Port Trust said the port has issued a tender to set up a 6 mega watt wind farm. Six companies, including Vestas and Suzlon, have participated in the pre-bid. The total project cost would be Rs 42 crore.

Rao added, the port will not set up the wind arm. Instead, it would outsource it. The company would operate, generate and maintain the wind farm. The port is proposing 3X1.5 Mw wind mills.

He added, the port’s present requirement is around 5 mega watt per annum. “The project will go on stream by the end of 2010, said Rao.