CPCL to generate 17.6 MW from wind

Chennai, July 11: Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) has commissioned 11 of its 22 wind energy generators to produce 17.6 MW power at Pushpathur on the Palakkad Pass at a cost of Rs 89.80 crore.

The electricity generated will be used for operating a desalination plant coming up at Manali near Chennai.

The company has entered into an agreement with the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board to wheel the energy generated from the farm to the plant.

Chairman of Indian Oil Group of Companies Sarthak Behuria commissioned the wind turbines in the presence of CPCL Chairman and Managing Director K K Acharya last evening.

The remaining 11 wind turbines will be commissioned in September, Mr Behuria said adding the wind energy was increasingly becoming the most commercially viable renewable energy source with zero adverse impact on environment.

Wind energy was offering direct means of dealing with fuel price volatility and also represents an important aspect of energy security.

He said Indian Oil was exploring the possibility of setting up a wind power project in Gujarat based on the 'part captive, part sale' model.

Mr Acharya said that CPCL was on the look out for a non-conventional mode of power generation.

The desalination plant, near Ennore, required 54 million kw hrs of energy for its operations.

He pointed out that Centre for Wind Energy Technology, an autonomous research and development agency, under the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources was engaged for technical queries and evaluation.

UNI