Riding high on its foray into renewable energy with a 50 MW wind farm project in Kutch, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is now aiming to generate as much as 1,000 MW from wind energy in coming years.
“From 50 MW we aim to increase the capacity upto 1,000 MW,” said a senior ONGC official. This would involve investment to the tune of Rs 6,000 crore, according to industry sources. The company is also planning to set up wind farms in Andhra Pradesh, sources added.
ONGC is increasing its focus on alternative sources of energy and this was evident as most members of the ONGC board (except Director Offshore) were present on Saturday in remote Jhakhau area in Kutch where the wind farm is located.
ONGC chairman RS Sharma said that the 50 MW turn-key project comprising a 34-unit farm was on “a pilot basis” and that the company aims to go beyond it on a commercial basis. He however refrained from giving any projection details. The project faced some procedural constraints including in the tendering process which led to some delay in the project.
The 50 Mw project work, being implemented by Suzlon, is for captive consumption.
“The per capita energy consumption of India is less than one-third of the global average. At present 90 per cent of India’s energy needs are being served by fossil fuels. ONGC fulfils 80 per cent of oil and gas produce of the country. We now aim to be an integrated energy player. At our Energy Centre we are carrying R&D and pilot projects for promoting alternative energy including uranium, solar, geo-bio reactor and geo-thermal,” according to Sharma.
The wind turbine generators (WTG) are capable to generate 1.5 Mw, one of the highest in the world. “Suzlon is carrying out pilot testing for 2 Mw onshore and with the RE Power we aim to have 5 MW capacity offshore,” said Rohit Modi, Country President of Suzlon.
Talking about Gujarat’s target for wind energy, S.K. Negi, Managing Director of Gujarat Electricity Transmission Company said that from current 1200 MW they intend to reach 3,000 MW in 2008-09.
Suzlon has decided to contribute 10 per cent of the revenues generated from the project as part of the CSR activity in Kutch.
“In the land acquisition process the people of Kutch have co-operated very well. Earlier we have faced problems in land acquisition. For instance, in one case the people refused to give away their land saying that the wind generated from the windmills blows away clouds,” said a senior official of Suzlon.
