Tata Power registers wind energy plant in Karnataka

Leading integrated power utility Tata Power has registered its 50.4 megawatt (mw) wind energy plant at Gadag in north Karnataka, the company said Tuesday.

"As the project has been set up under the clean development mechanism (CDM) programme of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), it allows us to trade certified emission reductions from the renewable energy project," Tata Power managing director Anil Sardana said in a statement here.

Commissioned in July 2009, the plant at Gadag, about 460km from here, uses 63 turbines of 800 kilowatt (kw) each to harness wind energy for power generation and helps reduce a whopping 99,100 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by producing 107,064 mw equivalent of clean energy annually.

"As part of our sustainability initiative, we are committed to reduce carbon footprint by adding clean and renewable energy generation capacity," Sardana said.

With four energy projects, including one (50.4 mw from wind) at Khandke in Maharashtra and two at Samana (50.4 mw from wind) and at Mithapur (25 mw from solar) in Gujarat, the company has a total of 397 mw of operating wind power generation capacity and 28 mw of solar power generation capacity, making it one of the largest renewable energy generators in the country.

"We propose to add 150-200 mw of wind and 50 mw of solar power capacity every year to reduce our carbon footprint," Sardana said.

The CDM was set up under the Kyoto Protocol to achieve sustainable development and contribute to the cost effective mitigation of climate change. It allows countries with emission reduction commitments to meet part of their reduction abroad, where green house gas (GHG) abatement costs can be lower.

The mechanism will also enable developing countries to attract investments in clean energy technology and assist them on a sustainable development path.

"As clean and renewable energy is the need of the hour, we will continue our efforts to have more such projects going forward," Sardana added.

As one of the largest renewable energy players, the company is also setting the country's first 4000mw ultra mega power project at Mundra in Gujarat based on super-critical technology.