Buoyed by record production of wind energy compared to last year

Tamil Nadu’s share of renewable energy (wind, solar, biomass and small hydro) in its total energy mix hit 20% in the first five months (April-August) of fiscal 2017, according to a report by research firm Elara Capital.

The share is higher than what the State achieved for the whole of FY16 and FY17. Tamil Nadu’s share of renewable energy in its total energy mix stood at 16.9% in FY17 and 14.2% in FY16, according to the firm’s report which had sourced the data from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

The increased share comes on the back of the busy 2017 wind season in the State, which just concluded.

According to a Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) official, the State evacuated a record quantum of wind energy when compared to last year.

For instance, on July 11, Tangedco evacuated more than 5,000 MW of wind power, replacing almost 1,000 MW of thermal power and operating several other plants at half the capacity. During that day, wind power accounted for almost a third of the State’s electricity demand. Karnataka led among the States in renewable energy volume contribution followed by Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu during the five- month period, the report added. It also pointed out that these three States account for 17% of India’s power market. Renewable energy contributed 18.3% of volume in Andhra Pradesh in the April-August period. Maharashtra was the only State to see a drop in renewable energy volume to 10.1% in the five-month period compared to 11.9% in FY17.