Wind energy is one of the chief contributors to renewable energy in India.Wind power accounts for 8.5% of India's total installed power capacity, and it generates 1.6% of the country's power.As of 31 Jan 2013 the installed capacity of wind power in India is 19564.95 MW, mainly spread across Tamil Nadu (7154 MW), Gujarat (3,093 MW), Maharashtra (2976 MW), Karnataka (2113 MW), Rajasthan (2355 MW).
Tamil Nadu leads the country in the installed capacity and generation of wind power.Wind is the chief contributor of power in Tamil Nadu (23 %) . It accounts to almost 90% of the total renewable energy contribution.
The major drawback of wind energy is the lower efficiency.Practically only 30-35 % is achieved.The reasons are mechanical losses,conversion losses and the production varies with season.Expected generation can be achieved only if there is a minimum velocity of 18 kmph.Hence Wind Power Plants cannot be established in all areas. More over it costs around Rs.7 crores to set up a 1 MW wind power plant whereas thermal and solar power plants require Rs. 5 crores and Rs.4 crores respectively. This reduces the number of investors.
Though there are many liabilities , Tamil Nadu draws investors in Wind due to its higher potential.
The key investors include Suzlon energy Ltd,Aban Loyd Chiles Offshore Ltd.,Wescare (India) Ltd.,
Madras Cements Ltd.,Subash Ltd.,Shalivahana Green Energy. Ltd.,Kethanur Wind Farm.,etc in the regions of Palghat Pass, Shencottah Pass,Aralvoimozhi Pass and Kambam Pass.On the tariff front as well, Tamil Nadu offers the lowest at Rs.3.51 per
kilowatt-hour compared with states such as Gujarat (Rs.4.23) and
Rajasthan (Rs.5).
But now the captive power of Tamil Nadu is under peril as the wind is favourable neither for new investors nor for addition by existing investors.Experts fear the second and third position holders ( Gujarat and Maharashtra ) might take over the lead.
Leading companies have started switching over to other forms of energy.Few other companies have started selling their shares. Experts state " Inadequate infrastructure, delayed payments, and lack of incentives are discouraging further investment in the sector".
The demotions are also due to seasonality of wind.They are principally restricted to a shorter duration.(May to October). The gain does not stay constant which hits bad during off-seasons.
Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corp. Ltd (Tangedco),the nodal agency for power in Tamil Nadu has reported a loss of Rs.54,000 crore in 2011-12.The infrastructure too seems to be low.Facility shortages have lead to 15-20% losses in generation.
Thus natural phenomenons summed up with political and monetary issues build a barrier for a system with high potential.If situations pursue,Tamil Nadu will be pushed to a darker side.The depreciation can never be met unless there occurs a policy change with full reforms,higher infrastructure and an increase in tariff rates .
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