Page 16 - CV April-May 2019 issue

SEVERAL WIND ENERGY PROJECTS IN SLOW LANE SINCE 2017 AUCTIONS

Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Company (TANGEDCO) auctioned 500 mw of wind capacity in August 2017.

BENGALURU: A large number of wind start commissioning, while only 50 mw has factory in Rajasthan in 2017 and laid off
energy projects have been bid out since been commissioned by Regen Powertech. about 400 employees. The company has
auctions for such projects began in early Leap Green Energy's managing director almost stopped making turbines and has
2017, both by Solar Corporation of India Rajeev Karthikeyan said the project will be gone into operations and maintenance
(SECI) and state agencies, but only a small completed only by May of next year and that (O&M) only. Through this tender, it will be
fraction of them have been commissioned so the company has sought an extension. “From venturing into operating its own projects for
far. Out of the 500 mw of wind capacity bid the time that you get the land and substation the first time.
out by Tamil Nadu two years ago, for built, it takes about seven-eight months to get
instance, only 50 mw has been the project working,” he said. “And land has The PPA has an inbuilt time extension of five
commissioned so far, according to a senior been hard to get. There is lot of competition months after project completion of 15
state government official. in the state for land (since it is one of the best months, with penalty by way of bank
wind producing states in the country.) We guarantee to an extent of Rs 10 lakh per mw.
Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution have had issues with buying agricultural land “TANGEDCO has secured Rs 20 crore and
Company (TANGEDCO) auctioned 500 mw and converting it.” Rs 25 crore respectively from the two
of wind capacity in August 2017. Regen developers and shall encash the amounts
Powertech was allotted 200 mw at a tariff of Founded in 2006, the Tamil Nadu-based proportionately up to five months,” said the
Rs 3.42 per unit while Leap Green Energy company is promoted by Formula 1 driver official cited earlier.
got 250 mw at Rs 3.43 per unit. Being the Narain Karthikeyan's family. It has a
first wind auction conducted by a state, the commissioned capacity of 751 mw. Hence, the winners have time till June to
tariffs were very low. The power purchase Queries sent by ET to Regen Powertech complete the project, after which the bank
agreement (PPA) was signed in October remained unanswered at press time. The guarantee will be encashed proportionate to
2017, with project completion time of 15 wind turbine generator has been going the period. But it is clear that neither project
months. But Leap Green Energy has yet to through a difficult time. It had shuttered its will be completed by June.

14 / CONSTRUCTION VISION / May June 2019