Narmada Hydroelectric Development Corporation (NHDC), a joint venture (JV) between the Madhya Pradesh government and the National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC), wishes to set up a 100-Mw wind power plant in Kukru village of Betul district (250 km from here). It will probably be one of the largest such plants in the country.
The company, formed to tap the potential in hydroelectric power generation on the Narmada river, has already diversified into thermal power and bagged two super-critical thermal power projects in the state of 1,360 Mw each.
Although capacity utilisation in wind power, if government and wind energy investors and various other sources are believed, comes to hardly 18-22 per cent in Madhya Pradesh, NHDC is optimistic on the project.
“We have appointed a consultant C-Wet to prepare a detailed report in this regard and conduct a survey. If the feasibility report comes in favour then we will go for the project,” a highly-placed executive of the company said.
NHDC is confident of optimum utilisation of the plant. At present the wind power rate starts from Rs 4.03 per unit in first year to Rs 3.36 per unit in the 20th year. Wind power makers have demanded a slash in power rates.
“I am planning to set up a power plant in Madhya Pradesh but power rates are very high. States like Tamil Nadu where capacity utilisation is very high, above 27 per cent, have yet lower tariff than Madhya Pradesh,” an investor, planning to set up a 15 Mw power plant said.
NHPC chairman, while speaking to Business Standard said, “We are hopeful of getting adequate power generation through this project. The project will be funded either through internal arrangements or loan.”
