Kerala   

Hydroelectric project in Idukki gets CDM certification

KOCHI: The Iruttukanam Small Hydroelectric project set up in Devikulam taluk of Idukki district has been certified under Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). This is the first project in Kerala to have registered under CDM, according to a top official associated with the project. The international certification is accorded by a designated body, functioning under the Kyoto Protocol.

The mechanism enables the 3 MW project to sell carbon emission reductions (CERs) achieved by it to various other entities across the world, which will provide additional revenue to the project. The project, set up by Viyyat Power Private Limited, was monitored by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the designated National Authority for CDM in India. The certification is provided after a due process of examination of social, economic, environmental and technological parameters.

The estimated reduction of carbon dioxide in tonnes per year by the project has been put at 10,131. The CER trading will be allowed for 10 years commencing from 2009.

The project has received the CDM certification in the category of small scale renewable energy generation unit. The prerequisite, as per the CDM provisions, is that the project supplies electricity to an electricity distribution system that is or would have been supplied by at least one fossil fuel fired generating unit.

The Iruttukanam project is executed in the western Kallar river, a tributary of Muthirapuzha river in Periyar basin. It can generate 11.92 MU of energy per annum The generated electricity can be fed to 66 kV transmission line and then connected to the southern regional grid. The power generated by the project helps in displacing electricity that would have been supplied by the thermal power plants connected to the grid, thus fulfilling a condition for the certification.

The total installed capacity in the southern regional grid is 36447.52 MW as on March 31, 2006. The installed capacity of thermal, hydro, nuclear and renewable energy sources in the southern grid 20366.32 MW, 10967.71 MW, 880 MW and 4233.49 MW respectively, according to government sources. The major source of power generation in the grid is heavily dependent on thermal generation, according to information available from the certifying authority.

The hydro potential in the country is estimated at 150,000 MW. The hydro electric scheme in operation as on March 31, 2006, accounted for only 19.08 per cent and those under execution were 5.61 per cent of the total potential. This phenomenon points out the need for developing bulk of the potential, a fact that was considered by the certifying authority before according the CDM status to the project.

The capital cost of the project is Rs. 15 crore and the electricity tariff agreed by KSEB is Rs.2.40 per kwh. The CDM revenue is significant to make it attractive for investment and also to cover some of the hardships reportedly faced by it.

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