Baldota Group to invest Rs 1,100 cr in wind energy sector

New Delhi, Nov 22 (UNI) Country's leading wind energy producer Baldota Group today said it will double its existing capacity of 191.6 MW to 400 MW by 2010 with an investment of Rs 1,100 crore.

''This augmentation in capacity is in tune with India's rapid march toward energy independence,'' said company CMD Narendra Kumar Baldota.

The company will scale up its generation capacity in its existing facilities in the states of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Mr Baldota said investment in the wind energy generation is very high but the returns are comparatively low. ''The cost of production for us is Rs 2.8 and the power tariff has been set at Rs 3.05. This is very low and we would like the price to be ideally around Rs 3.5.'' The government has given us any help, Mr Baldota said, and added that with the cost of set up a wind farm increasing, the government should give us a 200 per cent depreciation.

The company will also look at wind farms in the state of Rajasthan. However, Mr Baldota said a mismatch existed between the availibility of wind power and tariff in most of the states.

''In states like Tamil Nadu the potential for wind power is huge, but the tariff given by the electricity regulator is one of the lowest. On the other hand Rajasthan has a low yield on wind power but has higher tariff rates,'' Mr Baldota said.

The company had revenues of Rs 15 crore last year.

UNI