DRDO scientist stresses importance of predicting wind patterns

Bangalore, Nov 19: Defence Research and Development Organisation scientist Dr Kota Harinarayana today (Nov 19) stressed the importance of predicting wind patterns to maximise power generation and tide over problem of electric grid management.

"The variable nature of wind power output has implications on electric grid management. For this reason wind forecasting has acquired enormous importance, which is relevant to wind rich states as Karnataka," he said addressing a one-day state-level seminar on "Nowcasting Wind" here.

Countries around the world are seized of integrating wind resource into the electric grid and efforts are being made to bring in proper regulatory mechanisms to improve efficiency in harnessing wind resources in conjuction with other resources, Harinarayana said. KERC Chairman Sreenivasa Murthy stressed the need to focus on finding ways to manage renewable energy rather than looking at thermal generation plants, which depend on imported or scarce domestic coal.

Murthy said Karnataka should look at increasing geographical spread of wind power generation to tide over the problem of integrating wind resource to the electrical grid. He also suggested Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited officials and energy experts visit China to study ways of managing and balancing electricity grid.

"China boasts of generating 45,000 MW of wind energy as against India's 15,000 MW. There is a need to send officials to China to study their method to manage and balance the electricity grid," Murthy added. He said the Southern grid would be integrated with the national grid in the next two years, which might reduce apprehensions of load shedding and avoid power crisis situation in the country.

PTI