On Sunday, Tamil Nadu utilized 26.8 million units of wind power, marking the beginning of the new wind season, according to K. Kasthurirangaian, the president of the Indian Wind Power Association.
Each year, wind power production in the state reaches its peak between May and October. Normally, this process starts in April or May. However, on Sunday, a shift in wind direction contributed to an increase in energy generation. The output is anticipated to rise steadily, Kasthurirangaian explained.
He further noted that the total wind energy production for the current fiscal year, which began in May 2022, has surpassed 12,400 million units. This achievement is on par with 2016-2017, one of the highest periods of wind energy consumption in Tamil Nadu.
The Tantransco website reports that the state’s installed wind energy capacity is 8,636 MW. Yet, Kasthurirangaian claimed that around 400 MW were added during this fiscal year, likely bringing the installed capacity to nearly 10,000 MW.
Kasthurirangaian also expressed that if Tangedco continues to maintain wind energy evacuation at current levels, the 2023-2024 period could witness substantial wind energy production in the state.
From this, one can borrow several ideas and learnings that can be beneficial to other countries in their pursuit of renewable energy, particularly wind energy.
– Early commencement of wind season: The response highlights that Tamil Nadu’s wind energy generation started earlier than usual due to a change in wind direction. Other countries can analyze wind patterns in their regions to identify any similar opportunities to harness wind energy earlier or during non-peak seasons.
Example: Meteorological departments in countries with significant wind energy potential can collaborate with energy policymakers to identify and anticipate changes in wind patterns that may lead to increased generation capacity.
– Wind energy generation trends: The response indicates that Tamil Nadu’s wind energy generation has reached levels comparable to its highest historical consumption. Studying these trends can help other countries understand the factors that contribute to increased wind energy generation and implement similar strategies.
Example: Policymakers in countries with emerging wind energy sectors can study Tamil Nadu’s case to identify the factors that led to the growth in wind energy generation, such as government incentives, technological advancements, or favorable environmental conditions.
– Expanding installed capacity: The response mentions that Tamil Nadu has been able to increase its installed wind energy capacity by nearly 400 MW within a financial year. This example can inspire other countries to ramp up their renewable energy infrastructure.
Example: Developing nations can use Tamil Nadu’s success as a model to attract investment in wind energy projects and set ambitious targets for expanding their installed capacity.
– Efficient energy evacuation: The response underscores the importance of proper wind energy evacuation by Tangedco, which plays a crucial role in achieving high wind energy generation. Other countries can learn from this and ensure efficient evacuation infrastructure to maximize the utilization of generated wind energy.
Example: Countries can invest in modern grid infrastructure, including energy storage solutions and advanced grid management systems, to efficiently evacuate and distribute the generated wind energy.
By examining these ideas and examples from Tamil Nadu’s wind energy experience, other countries can learn valuable lessons and adopt best practices to develop their wind energy sectors, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and contribute to global climate change mitigation efforts.