GMDC, GSFC, GACL among those taking up green power generation.
At a time, when nation-wide efforts are being made for environmentally friendly power generation, public sector units (PSUs) promoted by Gujarat government are adopting green energy generation as part of their operations.
The listed PSUs such as Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC), Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (GACL), Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers Company Limited (GNFC) and Gujarat State Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited (GSFC) are increasingly developing wind power generation capacities in the state.
GMDC, a minerals major has already chalked out plans to add about 40 megawatt (Mw) of wind power generation capacities to its existing 60 Mw capacities in the current financial year. "We are committed towards environment and with this perspective, we have planned to expand wind energy capacities by another 40.5 Mw before August 31, 2011. This will make our total installed wind power capacities to over 100 Mw," said V S Gadhvi, managing director, GMDC.
In the last fiscal 2010-11, GMDC generated 51 million units of power, which reaped revenues of Rs 18 crores for the company. The company's wind power units are located in different districts of Saurashtra region and the additional capacities are coming up in Kutch.
Meanwhile, for the power consuming industries, the renewable energy comes as a cheaper and cleaner source of energy. "For a power guzzling industry like ours, renewable energy is most useful as it is not just clean but also cheaper. At GACL, with an installed capacity of 84 Mw, we are the largest wind power generating PSU in Gujarat," said Guruprasad Mohapatra, managing director, GACL, which manufactures caustic soda and chlorine.
The company is also planning to set up additional wind power generation capacities in Gujarat in the current financial year. The wind power projects have also brought recognition for the company from the global climate change body.
So far during the year 2011-12, the company has received three of its projects registered with United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Projects.
Similarly, fertilizers majors GSFC and GNFC have also taken up wind power generation besides their normal operations in chemicals and fertilizers. GSFC currently operates 73 Mw wind power projects in Kutch and Porbandar districts. The company is also setting up a 50.4 Mw wind power projects in Rajkot and Surendranagar districts of Gujarat. The project is expected to get commissioned by September 2011. With the latest addition, GSFC's total wind power capacity will increase to 123.4 Mw. Company's 10 Mw project in Kutch district has been registered with UNFCCC for the CDM project.
Experts see the trend as a step towards green energy development in Gujarat. "Power generated from conventional sources like coal have been adding to carbon emissions. But with state-promoted companies adopting green power, more and more private players too may get prompted to go green," said an industry analyst from Ahmedabad.
Currently, Gujarat has installed wind power generation capacities of 2175.5 Mw, while the potential is seen at 10,645 Mw. This opens vast avenues for new wind power generation capacities in the state.
