As a part of its efforts to go green, Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) is setting up another wind power project of 8.4 MW and has awarded the contract to the world's fifth largest wind turbine supplier Suzlon Group.
The windmill project that will comprise of four units of Suzlon’s S95 - 2.1 MW wind turbine will come up in coastal area of Saurashtra and will be commissioned by early 2013.
According to sources, this will cost the civic body Rs 63 crore. However, once commissioned within a year, will give 1.58 crore units of electricity. This is nearly 11% of the total power consumption of the civic body.
Suzlon supplied a maiden 3 MW wind power project in 2010 for the SMC in Adodar, Gujarat. The new project will augment SMC’s existing wind power portfolio to 11.4 MW. Once commissioned, the project will help SMC to reduce its carbon footprint by eliminating approximately 15,000 tones of carbon dioxide emissions per-annum.
SMC is planning to use the credit from generation of power from this project in the expenses of Katargam water works and water distribution centres services.
The civic body has been consistent with its efforts to promote green energy. It has decided to develop Surat as a solar city. It was the first municipal corporation to set up two 1.5 MW wind turbine generators at Porbandar at a capital cost of Rs 18.43 crore. The SMC has decided to set up two roof top power plants of 25 kw and 50 kw on its main building at Muglisarai and at Science Centre respectively at a capital cost of Rs 1.50 crore. This would help it save power worth Rs 17.06 lakh in a year.
Commenting on the development, Jatin Shah, city engineer, SMC said, "This green energy endeavor aligns with our strategy to be socially and environmentally committed. Through this initiative, we not only aim to reduce our energy costs, but also adopt sustainable energy pathways. We see Suzlon as a long-term partner in our green energy endeavors."
Rohit Modi, chief executive officer, India and emerging markets, Suzlon Energy Ltd said, "Suzlon has been a market leader in India for the past 13 years in a row, in Gujarat we have installed over 1.5 GW and have built the largest wind farm in the country at Kutch."
