Renewable energy sources contribute 19 billion units

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 13 (UNI) Renewable energy sources have yielded more electricity than nuclear plants to the National Grid in the past year, a top official said today.

Talking to mediapersons here, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Secretary V Subramanian said the renewable energy sources contributed 19 billion units of power to the Grid.

The installed capacity of renewable energy would be raised to 25 per cent of total power generation by the end of 15th Five Year Plan, he said. At present, the installed capacity from renewable energy is seven per cent and electricity supplied is only one per cent. The government is giving more importance to research and development to tap renewable energy.

Mr Subramanian said the wind power sector has grown significantly. Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh were the leading states, which have tapped the wind energy. India has the fourth largest capacity in the world in wind energy after Germany, US and Spain. However, wind energy was confined to certain areas in India.

In Kerala, 815 MW of wind energy potential has been identified and it was technically feasible to install 650 MW power plant-based on wind energy. The capital expenditure was very high in wind-based power projects but recurring expenditure was nil.

In many states, the electricity produced from wind-based power plants was sold at the rate of Rs 3.50 per unit as per the State Regulatory Commission. Biogas plants were also getting popular in Kerala. In Tamil Nadu, a biogas plant had been started using chicken waste and fuel.

Mr Subramanian was here to inaugurate the review meeting of All Southern States organised by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

In the meeting, he urged all states to develop more projects form harnessing renewable energy sources like Solar, Wind, Hydro and Biomass.

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