Date:09/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/09/stories/2008090950040100.htm

Front Page

Windmills provide much needed breather

R. Sairam

MADURAI: Increased power generation in the last two days from windmills in the State has provided a breather to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB).

From abysmal levels of power generation, wind mills have been generating a steady 2,000 MW in the past two days. This has enabled the TNEB to provide relaxation from the scheduled load shedding, Chief Engineer (Distribution) of Madurai region, TNEB, K. Balasubramanian, told The Hindu on Monday.

Power generated from windmills had enabled the TNEB to meet almost the entire demand of 1,000 MW of the Madurai Region.

Farmers did not use generators owing to rainfall. This also enabled the TNEB to provide full supply to industries. He said that while the Madurai Metro area (Madurai Corporation limits) had continuous power supply in the past two days, rural areas had some load shedding.

Rural areas and other southern districts in the Madurai Region experienced 75 per cent relaxation from the scheduled load shedding.

If this situation could be sustained, further relief would be provided. However, with wind power being subject to vagaries of nature, power generation was bound to fluctuate and hence the present relief might be only temporary in nature.

Even though many areas received heavy rainfall, catchment areas of Periyar dam did not receive appreciable rainfall but for a day. Hence, power generation through hydel power stations remained below the required level, he said.