KSEB considers wind energy expansion amid rising electricity costs

Thiruvananthapuram: KSEB plans to increase wind power generation after achieving the 1,000 MW target for solar power generation. To facilitate this, a global tender will be floated and a single window system will be introduced. KSEB is also preparing to test an offshore wind farm.

The rising cost of purchasing electricity in Kerala is causing increasing concern among the management, prompting it to take steps to increase energy generation from non-standard sources.

In Kerala, 14 sites have been identified in Palakkad and Idukki districts for setting up wind farms. The aim is to start the project in these sites with private sector participation under the leadership of the Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology (ANERT). The Union Ministry estimates that up to 1,600 MW of wind power can be generated in Kerala.

Large companies in the field are hesitant to invest in Kerala as small projects in small areas are not viable. To address this, a global tender was floated to identify potential wind farm locations and launch large projects by connecting regions.

The Centre promotes offshore wind energy projects and has approved offshore wind farms worth Rs 7,000 crores in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. The Centre will also provide Viability Gap Fund to make the project feasible.

Kerala needs to prove its potential to secure a place in the project. For this purpose, KSEB intends to implement the offshore wind project on an experimental basis.