The Center for Wind Energy Technology (CWET) of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MoNRE) has estimated the wind power potential in Orissa at about 900 MW.
There are six different locations across the state, which were identified under the wind resource assessment programme. These locations are Chandipur, Chhatrpur, Damanjodi, Gopalpur, Paradip and Puri.
Wind power projects are being established at potential locations with private sector investment depending upon state tariff and other related policies and project viability, said the Union minister for New and Renewable Energy, Farooq Abdulla in a reply to Renubala Pradhan, Rajya Sabha member from Orissa.
The Orissa Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA), the apex agency under the Department of Science and Technology, state government, has taken up one 2 MW demonstration Wind Power Project (WPP) at Damanjodi in Koraput district to showcase the techno-commercial feasibility of such project, said a state government report.
The project proposal for this WPP was submitted to MoNRE for approval, the sources said.
Meanwhile, the CWET has identified some more sites in the state for assessing wind energy resources. These are Sambalpur, Ganjam and Keonjhar. The Union minister said, the state government has announced a modified tariff policy for wind power development.
Responding to another question, the Union minister said, the Center has provided financial support for deployment of solar based systems in 677 villages so far.
The MoNRE is implementing Remote Village Electrification Programme (RVEP) for providing financial support for lighting and basic electricity in those remote un-electrified villages and hamlets, which are not taken up under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY). The programme is being implemented across the country including Orissa, he said.
He, however, said the state wise target is not set under the programme. “The financial support to projects is sanctioned after proposals of eligible village and hamlets are submitted by the state notified implementing agencies”, he informed.
