Centre to do pilot of small wind energy hybrid project

To provide electricity in remote areas or places with intermittent supplies, the Centre will set up first pilot project of small wind energy and hybrid systems (SWES) at Kayathar in Tamil Nadu.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy ( MNRE) is implementing a programme to promote installation of SWES with the objective to provide electricity in unelectrified areas or areas with intermittent electric supply, the ministry said in a release.
The first-such pilot-cum-demonstration project of 25 KW capacity will be installed at the wind turbine test station of National Institute of Wind Energy at Kayathar, Tootikudi District, Tamil Nadu.

Under the programme, MNRE provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to community users for installation of such systems. The total installed capacity as on March 31, 2016 is 2.69 MW. There are 6 small wind turbine manufacturers and 9 models empanelled under this programme.
The SWES projects have been highly successful in the US and European countries. Initially, 10 such demonstration projects will be supported for grid integration.
The tentative cost for each of the project will be in the range of Rs 2-3 lakh per KW, depending upon the configuration and location of the projects. The Ministry will support upto 50 per cent of the project cost.

The installation of such projects and its success would lead towards launching of National Programme on Grid connected small wind and solar hybrid system in future.