Energy security and environmental Sustainability are vital to our future. Energy security is very important for economic growth. Renewable energy sources are essential in view of the depleting nature of conventional energy resources. Electricity is a critical infrastructure for sustainable growth of economy. Power development is an important input for the States Industrial, Commercial and Socio economic growth. For this, the availability of affordable, reliable and quality power is necessary. Therefore, adequate provision has to be made for augmenting power supply to bridge the gap between demand and supply as well as to meet the increasing future demand. Keeping this in view, Government is giving utmost importance to power sector in Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu has one of the best power utilities in the country and the power sector in the State has grown manifold in capacity generation. All the villages and the towns are fully electrified.
Conventional resources of energy in Tamilnadu
Thermal power plants in Tamilnadu:
- Ennore Thermal Power Station(ETPS) – 450 MW (2×60, 3×110 MW)
- Mettur Thermal Power Station(MTPS) – 1440 MW (4×210, 1×600 MW)
- North Chennai Thermal Power Station(NCTPS) 1830 MW (3×210 MW, 2×600 MW)
- Tuticorin Thermal Power Station(TTPS) – 1050 MW (5×210 MW)
Hydro electric power plants in Tamilnadu
- Amaravathi Dam
- Bhavani Kattalai Hydroelectric Project
- Bhavanisagar dam
- Kateri hydroelectric system
- Kundah hydro-electric power house
- Lower Mettur Hydroelectric Project
- Maravakandy hydro-electric power house
- Mettur Dam
- Moyar hydro-electric power house
- Papanasam Dam
- Vaigai Dam
Atomic energy in Tamilnadu
The Kalpakkam Nuclear Power Plant, Ennore Thermal Plant, Neyveli Lignite Power Plant, Virudhachalam Ceramics and the Narimanam Natural Gas Plants are major sources of Tamil Nadu’s electricity. It is presently adding the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant to its energy grid. Tamil Nadu sources some of its power needs from renewable sources with wind power contributing over 2000 MW or over 20% of the needs. Tamil Nadu is facing largest power shortage in 2013 (34.1% deficit), the highest in the country, due to industrialization over the last decade. India’s leading steel producer SAIL has a steel plant in Salem, Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu ranks first nationwide in diesel-based thermal electricity generation with national market share of over 34%.
Non conventional energy resources
Non conventional resources are also known as renewable energy resources. The State is blessed with various forms of renewable energy sources. The environment-friendly renewable energy sources are perennial in nature, available locally and quite suitable for decentralized applications. The important renewable energy sources are as follows:
- Wind energy
- Solar energy
- Biomass energy
- Tide energy
- Ocean thermal energy
- Small hydro project
Among the above mentioned sources, three renewable energy sources, viz., wind, solar and bio energy are being harnessed in a big way in India and also in Tamil Nadu.
Present Scenario – Renewable Energy Sources
The total installed capacity of power generation from renewable energy sources in Tamil Nadu is 8533.26 Mega Watt (MW) as on 31.08.2015, which includes wind (7470.86 MW) and co-generation (659.40 MW) and biomass power (230 MW), solar (173 MW).
Tamil Nadu is an undisputed leader in renewable energy in India. The total renewable energy installed capacity as on 31.08.2015 is 8533.26 MW, which is 23.29% of the Country’s renewable capacity. The installed capacity of renewable energy in Mega Watt term is 36.96% of the total installed capacity of the State. In terms of energy generation, 14.07% comes from Renewable energy in the State. This is significantly higher than the contribution of renewable energy in the country, which is 9.28%.
In the State, the contribution to the installed capacity is highest from wind energy, followed by biogases-based cogeneration plants in sugar industries. This has largely come through private investments encouraged by policy initiatives of the Central and the State Governments.
Wind energy
Wind energy is one of the cleanest renewable sources of power. The potential area that are suitable for establishment of wind generators are mostly confined to the southern (Aralvoimozhi pass and Shengottai pass) and south western (Palghat and Cumbum pass) parts of the State. Total installed capacity under wind mill generation is 7470.86 MW. Tamil Nadu tops in harnessing resources of energy among all Indian States of the installed capacity, thus making it a clear leader in the wind energy sector.
Solar energy
Tamil Nadu Solar Energy Policy 2012 aims at generating 3000 MW of solar power by 2015 with a vision of developing the State as a world leader in Solar Energy. This will be achieved through Utility Scale Projects (1500 MW), Rooftops (350 MW)
Tamil Nadu has a very good solar potential with 300 clear sunny days as it receives very high solar radiation. The Solar Photo Voltaic (SPV) technology which enables the direct conversion of sun light into electricity has several distinct advantages, since it does not have moving parts, produces no noise or pollution, requires very little maintenance and can be installed anywhere. These advantages make them an ideal power source for use especially in remote and isolated areas which are not served by conventional electricity, making use of ample sunshine available in the State. SPV technology provides for decentralized installations thereby minimizing the need for transmission infrastructure. Similarly Solar Thermal with potential for storage is yet another very good solar technology.
Bio-mass energy
Bio-mass produced by green plants through photosynthesis using sunlight, contains organic matter which could be converted to energy. Biomass can be obtained by raising energy plantations or may be obtained from organic waste. The biomass resources can be used in bio-energy technologies viz., biogas, gasifier, biomass combustion, cogeneration, etc., to produce energy-thermal or electricity. Biomass can be used in three ways – one in the form of gas through gasifiers for thermal applications, second in the form of methane gas to run gas engines and produce power and the third through combustion to produce steam which drives a turbine to generate electricity. Biomass combustion – The total installed capacity of the Grid interactive Biomass power projects in the State as on 31.08.2015 is 230 MW.
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