Bengal - Mega 50 MW wind energy project soon for country

Suzlon Energy Ltd is planning to set up a large wind-power project in West Bengal, for which it is looking at coastal Midnapore and South 24-Parganas districts. According to SP Gon Chaudhuri, chairman of the West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency, the 50 MW project would supply grid-quality power. Gon Chaudhuri, who is also the principal secretary in the power department, said the project would be the biggest in West Bengal using wind energy. At present, Suzlon experts are looking for the best site. Suzlon aims to generate the power solely for commercial purpose and sell it to local power distribution outfits like the West Bengal State Electricity Board (WBSEB).

Suzlon will invest around Rs 250 crore initially, without taking recourse to the funding available from the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (Ireda), said Gon Chaudhuri. He said there are five wind-power units in West Bengal, at Frazerganj, generating a total of around 1 MW. At Sagar Island, there is a composite wind-diesel plant generating 1 MW. In West Bengal, power companies are being encouraged to buy power generated by units based on renewable energy. The generating units are being offered special rates. S Banerjee, private secretary to the power minister, said this had encouraged the private sector companies to invest in this field.