Suzlon Green to set up 50 Mw wind farms in AP

Suzlon Green Power Limited (SGP), part of the Suzlon group, will set up 50-Mw wind turbines in Andhra Pradesh with an investment of about Rs 300 crore.

Speaking to Business Standard, SGP projects head N Ramani said the wind farms would come up at Gandikota in Kadapa district and Vajrakudur in Ananatapur district.

“We have got the sanction letters and will conduct a feasibility study,” he said, adding the company was in talks with APTransco on issues relating to evacuation of power generated.

Meanwhile, the state government has identified 32 locations for setting up wind farms in the state. Last year, AP produced 13 Mw through wind farming and this is likely to increase to about 150 Mw in a year on the back of generation-based incentives extended by the government.

According to Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association chairman DV Giri, about 1,500 Mw was produced through the wind energy across the country during 2009-10. This would increase by 750 Mw this fiscal and 3,000 Mw the next year. “We are targeting to reach 5,000 Mw production by 2015,” he said adding India had the potential to generate about 1,22,000 Mw through wind.

Deepak Gupta, secretary of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, who participated in a meeting organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, said wind energy could help in dealing with the shortage of power and environmental issues.

The 11th Plan targeted for 10,500 Mw but it was reduced to 9,000 MW due to the recession, he said.

Principal secretary, energy, Suthirtha Bhattacharya pointed out that AP had a gross potential of 8,000 Mw and practical potential of 3,000 Mw.