The Hindu : Karnataka News : NTPC to set up 100-MW wind energy plant in Guledgud

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Thursday, Jun 30, 2011
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Karnataka

Karnataka

NTPC to set up 100-MW wind energy plant in Guledgud

Special Correspondent

Entire power generated from this unit will be used by Karnataka

All five Escoms sign PPAs with NTPC
Power tariff not yet finalised

— Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

A beginning:P. Manivannan, Managing Director of Bescom (left), and M.K.V. Rama Rao, Executive Director NTPC, exchanging files during the signing of the PPAs, while Energy Minister Shobha Karandlaje looks on in Bangalore on Wednesday.

BANGALORE: The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), the country's biggest thermal power generation entity, is poised to set up a 100-MW wind power plant — its biggest wind power mill in the country — in Guledgud of Bagalkot district in Karnataka. The process of implementation of the project began on Wednesday with all the five Escoms in the State signing separate power purchase agreements (PPAs) with the NTPC.

Karnataka will be the only beneficiary of the power generated by this plant. While the exact tariff for the power to be generated by this plant has not been mentioned in the PPA, it is expected to be determined based on the guidelines prescribed by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission.

18 months on

Addressing a programme organised to mark the signing of PPAs, NTPC Director (Commercial) Inderjeet Kapur noted that it would take about 18 months for the wind power project to be commissioned after the commencement of civil works. Tenders for execution of the project has already been floated and the lowest bidder would be identified in about a month.

An NTPC official told The Hindu that the process of getting forest clearances was expected to take about six months. He noted that 500 acres of land had been identified for the project in Guledgud.

Speaking on the occasion, Energy Minister Shobha Karandlaje alleged that it was because Karnataka did not have big power plants set up by the NTPC (at present the NTPC is setting up a plant in Kudgi) that the State was facing power deficit.

Karnataka was trying to make up for it by focussing on renewable energy projects, she said.

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