TN will remain on top in renewable source power generation

Chennai: Tamil Nadu will continue to lead in generation of power from renewable sources with capacity addition of 7,353 mega watt by 2017, according to a Central Electricity Authority (CEA) report.

Out of the total capacity addition of 32,713 MW of renewable energy sources – wind, solar and small hydro - Tamil Nadu is expected to add 22 per cent of the total addition during the end of the 12th five-year Plan in 2017, said a CEA report, titled ‘Large scale grid integration of renewable energy sources – way forward’.

It added that Rajasthan would follow Tamil Nadu with 5,694 MW addition and Andhra Pradesh, with 4,827 MW in the envisaged capacity addition. Of the projected 32,713 MW capacity addition, about 20,432 MW would be from wind power and 10,220 MW from solar energy.

Tamil Nadu, which accounts for 40 per cent of wind-installed capacity in India, will be adding a maximum of 4,339 MW of wind power, while Maharashtra will see the second highest addition of 3,763 mw. For capacity addition in solar power, Rajasthan will be adding 3,513 MW followed by Tamil Nadu with 3,014 MW.

At present, India’s total renewable generation is 28,184 MW as on August 31, 2013. At the end of the 12th five-year Plan, the co­untry is expected to have a total installed generation capacity of 60,897 MW, the report said. The total installed capacity of renewable energy in Tamil Nadu will go up to 15,415 MW from 8,062 MW, while Rajasthan will have the second highest capacity of 9,060 MW.

A senior Tangedco official expressed hope that the state would be able to meet the renewable energy capacity addition target. “As per the state’s solar energy policy, we are planning to add 3,000 MW of solar power to the grid by 2015. We have already received bids from 52 companies who will be setting up plants with a total capacity of 698 MW,” the official said, adding that capacity addition in the wind energy sector is expected to pick up once the wind power evacuation infrastructure is improved.

Next: Power generation must be  forecast accurately: Report

Power generation must be  forecast accurately: Report

G. Jagannath | DC

Chennai: The Central Electricity Autho­r­ity (CEA) has made a strong pitch for the need for forecasting of wind and solar power generation for maintaining the load-generation balance.

“Generation from renewable energy sources (RES) depends on nature - that is wind velocity and sunshine. The variability of RES power can be addressed through im­proved forecasting techni­ques, which are still evolving.

Wh­en the percentage of RES be­comes significant, special attention needs to be paid to accurately forecast their output,” the CEA, in its report titled ‘Large scale grid integration of renewable energy sources – way forward’, says.

In order to ensure that the grid operates safely, the report, which envisages addition of 32,000 MW of RES power by 2017, said it is very important for the system op­erator to foresee what is expected to happen a few hours ahead to be able to take appropriate measures. It said forecasting techniques have been gradually improving over the years with error coming down to 15-25 per c­ent for up to day-ahead lead-time.

Seeking setting up of renewable energy management centres (REMC) equipped with advanced forecasting tools, smart dispatching solutions, real-time monitoring of RE generation, the report emphasised the need for close coordination of REMC with state and regional load dispatch centres. It recommended international cooperation for developing REMCs in RE-rich states like TN, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Ka­rnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh and J&K.

CEA has also suggested that technical and regulatory measures be enhanced for the flexibility of conventional generation to increase the balancing capacity of the grid. “The induction of RES does not reduce the requirement of conventional sources of generation which are required to provide backup when RE power is not available,” it said.