Low-cost solar energy: Tamilnadu officials to visit Japan, Germany
Chennai, Tamilnadu, India, Jan. 30, 2008
Source: The Hindu
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200801301653.htm
Officials from the Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA) and Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) would visit countries like Japan and Germany to study the low-cost solar energy generation model and replicate the same in the state. Electricity Minister Arcot N Veeraswamy informed the State Assembly on wednesday that Japan and Germany were successful in generating low-cost solar power, which is at present, a ‘costly affair’ in Tamil Nadu.
“An amount of Rs 25 crores is spent on generating one MW of solar power in India, while countries like Germany and Japan produce the same amount of power at the cost of Rs 12 crore. Officials from TEDA and TNEB will visit these countries to study the low-cost models,” he said while replying to questions on power crisis in the state by members of different parties.
The Government has for long been maintaining that the power crisis was the result of an absence of wind flow since October 2007, leading to a power shortfall of 1500 MW. “Private windmill owners are ready to generate solar power in the same area where their windmills are located,” Veeraswamy said.
Areas in Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Coimbatore with round the year wind flow had been identified, keeping in mind possible future wind power projects, he said. The minister also said the state Government would encourage power generation efforts using constituency development funds of MLA and MPs, but did not elaborate.