Early signs of persistent growth in the Indian wind energy market are visible as private sector companies in India continue to push for capacity addition.
Gujarat-based Torrent Power has signed an agreement with leading wind turbine manufacturing company to set up over 197 MW capacity across the state. Torrent Power, a private sector power generation company, has a large conventional power generation base and is now looking to expand the renewable energy capacity as well.
The company plans to set up 3 wind projects across the districts of Kutch and Bhavnagar in Gujarat. The projects are expected to be operational next year and shall help the company fulfil its renewable purchase obligation. Torrent Power also owns power distribution utilities in Gujarat which are required to purchase a set minimum percentage of electricity from renewable energy sources.
Torrent Power currently owns 50 MW wind energy capacity, operational in Jamnagar district of Gujarat. It also owns a 51 MW solar power project in the famous Charanka solar power park and is working on an 81 MW solar power project at Surat. The company is also developing 136.80 MW wind energy capacity in Rajkot and Surendranagar districts in Gujarat.
This large order is a healthy sign for the Indian wind energy sector which recently suffered a setback. The Indian government reduced the an important tax incentive that had benefitted several wind energy project developers for years. The fact that companies is still looking to invest in wind energy sector shows that the government’s push for compliance of renewable purchase obligation may be working.
Image Credit: Michael Hoefner | Some rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission