Tamil Nadu leads in renewable energy

Tamil Nadu leads the nation in the entire spectrum of the renewable energy projects from wind power to biomass gasifiers through investor-friendly policies.

India's renewable energy is estimated at 6,000 MW of which Tamil Nadu alone accounts for an installed capacity of 30 per cent to 2,317 MW.

R Vishwanthan, minister for electricity and transport, Government of Tamil Nadu, said that the state government is not only promoting renewable energy in rural areas as energy sources but also promoting it to increase employment opportunities and augment the income.

Production of bio-fuels is being been encouraged by the government, he said.

The renewable energy programmes in rural areas include 24 biomass gasifiers, 1,274 individual toilet-linked biogas plants, 3,400 solar photovoltaic street lights, 500 solar home lights and 22 solar pumps installed during the last two years.

Among the state government's incentives include five per cent wheeling and banking charges, reasonable tariff for renewable power under the power purchase agreement by the Tamil Nadu Electricity board, a good grid connectivity and consistent policies.