February 27, 2013

Tamil Nadu tops the list of States that has added the highest renewable power generation capacity in the last three years. Most of it was wind energy. The figures were released by the new and renewable energy ministry. 12,436 MW of power through renewable energy was added. After wind energy it was bio power and solar that was in demand.

Out of the total energy of 12,436 MW of renewable energy added in last three years, Tamil Nadu (3,113 MW) added the highest with second being Gujarat (2,389 MW) and third being Rajasthan (1,930 MW), the ministry said. Out of the allotted 185 grid connected solar power plants classified under different schemes in the last three years, 132 power plants have started functioning by January 2013, the ministry added.

Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) has to clear three 4,000 MW ultra-mega power projects (UMPP) each in Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. The standard bidding documents (SBDs) for auctioning of power plants awaiting clearance, Minister of State for Power Jyotiraditya Scindia said.

Tamil Nadu has now announced incentives for private sector setting up solar energy plants while two coal based power plants are to function in one month. One of them is in North Chennai, which is witnessing power outages, and by this plan the area will get relief. Tamil Nadu has also decided to import coal for its plants.