Suzlon Group, a wind turbine manufacturer, said it has signed an expression of interest (EoI) with the Government of Karnataka to develop 2,500 mega watt (MW) of new wind power capacity in the state between 2012 and 2017.
The EoI covers the development of new capacity in wind farms across the state, with developments planned in Bijapur, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Dharwad, Chikmangalore, Raichur, Mysore, Belgaum and Bagalkot. The investment is worth Rs. 15,000 crore. Suzlon has installed over 770 MW capacity in the state.
Under the EoI, the Karnataka Government will obtain the necessary permissions, registrations, approvals and clearances for the development of wind farms in the state. Suzlon, in turn, will play the role of a developer and facilitate the flow of investments into the state through its customers investing in wind energy.
“We are extremely pleased to sign this EoI with the Government of Karnataka. This not only reinforces Karnataka’s position as one of India’s leading markets in wind energy, but also illustrates their commitment towards creating a low-carbon economy in the state," Tulsi Tanti, chairman, Suzlon Group, said. Karnataka has large untapped wind energy potential, with estimates ranging around 13,000 MW according to Centre for Wind Energy Technology (CWET).
Suzlon currently has over 700 MW of installed capacity in the state.