Suzlon Energy mulls off-shore wind power project in Gujarat

The company is also studying nine different sites in the state for the project.

India's largest wind energy company Suzlon is interested to enter into off shore wind energy in the country. The project will be coming to Gujarat.

"We are working on an off-shore wind energy project and may be in next 4-5 years we will come in with an off-shore wind energy project. Most probably it will be in Kutch area," said Tulsi Tanti, chairman and managing director of Suzlon Energy Limited."Currently, our company is active in off-shore wind energy outside India in places like Germany, Belgium and Netherland at Europe," said Tanti, refusing to divulge further details about the upcoming project.

While Tanti said the project could be through Kutch in Gujarat, the company is also studying nine different sites in the state for the project.

As of now, the company has four projects in Gujarat and has invested about Rs 500 crore so far. At a capacity of 1,500 Mw, Suzlon runs one of the largest wind power projects in Kutch. Out of the 1,500 Mw, while the installed capacity is around 900 Mw, the rest 600 Mw will be installed in next two years. "Gujarat is the pioneer in wind power energy and the state is more stable in power than any other states of India. Gujarat is the first to set up first wind power plant in India," Tanti stated.

When asked about foraying into solar energy, Tanti said, "Our core area is wind power and we are not interested to enter in solar energy. India has very limited resources to generate power and the way fuel and coal prices increase worldwide wind mills are the best way to get energy in cheapest way. There is potential for 100,000 Mw in wind energy in India."

Meanwhile, Coromandel Wind Energy Limited (CWE), a Chennai head-quartered wind energy IPP, has signed an agreement with Suzlon Group for its maiden wind power project.

The project will comprise of 36 units of Suzlon’s new S97 - 2.1 MW wind turbine generators and shall be commissioned in FY 2012-13.

Under the agreement, Suzlon will supply, set up, operate and maintain a 75.6 MW wind power project for Coromandel Wind Energy in the state of Rajasthan. The deal is valued at nearly Rs 470 crore.