TN to come out with action plan on climate change

The Tamil Nadu government plans to come out with an action plan on climate change on the lines of the National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC) to promote renewable energy in the state. Besides, Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) has set up a renewable energy purchase obligation (RPO) at 14 percent for 2010-2011.

In his address at the valedictory session of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)-Tamil Nadu Solar Convention, deputy chief minister M K Stalin said that power generation through renewable sources in Tamil Nadu touched 5,500 MW representing 33 per cent of India’s renewable energy installed capacity.

Wind power, bagasse-based co-generation, bio-mass power and small hydro power projects have contributed towards this, said Stalin.

The electricity generation from all the renewable energy resources during the year 2009-10 was nearly 9,600 million units which amounts to 13.12 percent of grid consumption, and is way ahead of other states, he added.

“Tamil Nadu was the first state to harness wind energy on a big scale. Today, 43 per cent of India’s installed capacity in wind energy is in Tamil Nadu,” said Stalin.

As against the target of 10 per cent share of renewable energy, in the total grid-power set by the cenral government, the share in Tamil Nadu is 36 per cent.

Stalin said solar energy was the most promising one particularly for a country like India, and especially for Tamil Nadu with abundant solar radiation throughout the year.

The government of India has recently launched Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission to develop solar energy by creating policy conditions for the deployment of 20,000 MW of Solar power by 2022.

In line with NAPCC, the Tamil Nadu government is also in the process of formulating an Action Plan on Climate Change. Solar energy will get due significance in this plan.

He noted that Tamil Nadu has announced the highest tariff Rs 18.45 per unit as against Rs 17.91 per unit fixed by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission for solar power, under RPSSGP of the Solar Mission. Under this scheme, seven SPV projects of each 1 MW capacity have been sanctioned for the state.