India - Power project to harness desert wind

The Rajasthan Power Corporation plans to set up a 25-MW wind energy project in Jaisalmer district at an estimated cost of Rs.1 billion ($22 million dollars). The state government has decided to set up at least 28 such projects in various parts of the state with the aim of generating 444.25 MW of electricity. It has tied up with 14 leading companies, including the Germany-based Suzlon Energy, sources said.
Rajasthan has a gross wind power potential of 5,400 MW, higher than Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, the current leaders in wind power generation. However, its technical potential is only 885 MW.

The state has also invited private developers to generate power by harnessing wind at Devgarh, Harshnath, Jaisalmer, Kohdal, Mohangarh and Phalodi. The annual mean wind speed at the six identified locations varies from 17.40 km per hour to 20.62 km per hour. To attract private producers, the state also put in place a wind power policy in 2003 that offered a series of concessions, including rebate in land rates and attractive power purchase agreement (PPA) terms. The government has also taken up wind assessment studies at 10 new locations to harness more power in the state.