SEMINAR REPORT

WIND TURBINE TECHNOLOGY IN INDIA

By,
SANDEEP S
ETAHECH039
29-10-2010
 CHAPTER 1
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Wind energy is a renewable form of energy resource which is plentiful,
widely distributed, clean, and produces no greenhouse gas emissions during operation.
Because of these reasons wind energy has always been a reliable form of energy for ages.
Wind power technology dates back many centuries. There are historical claims that wind
machines which harness the power of the wind date back beyond the time of the ancient
Egyptians. Hero of Alexandria used a simple windmill to power an organ whilst the
Babylonian emperor, Hammurabi, used windmills for an ambitious irrigation project as early
as the 17th century BC. The Persians built windmills in the 7th century AD for milling and
irrigation and rustic mills similar to these early vertical axis designs can still be found in the
region today. In Europe the first windmills were seen much later, probably having been
introduced by the English on their return from the crusades in the Middle East or possibly
transferred to Southern Europe by the Muslims after their conquest of the Iberian Peninsula.
It was in Europe that much of the subsequent technical development took place. By the late
part of the 13th century the typical ‘European windmill’ had been developed and this became
the norm until further developments were introduced during the 18th century. At the end of
the 19th century there were more than 30,000 windmills in Europe, used primarily for the
milling of grain and water pumping.

Modern wind generators

The first wind powered electricity was produced by a machine built by Charles F.
Brush in Cleveland, Ohio in 1888. It had a rated power of 12 kW (direct current - dc). Direct
current electricity production continued in the form of small scale, stand-alone systems until
the 1930's when the first large scale AC turbine was constructed in the USA. There was then
a general lull in interest until the 1970's when the fuel crises sparked a revival in research and
development work in North America and Europe. Modern wind turbine generators are highly
sophisticated machines, taking full advantage of state-of-the-art technology, led by
improvements in aerodynamic and structural design, materials technology and mechanical,
electrical and control engineering and capable of producing several megawatts of electricity.
During the 1980's installed capacity costs dropped considerably and wind power has become
an economically attractive option for commercial electricity generation. Large wind farms or
wind power stations have become a common sight in many western countries. In 2001
Denmark alone had 2000 Megawatts of electricity generating capacity from more than 5,700
wind turbines, representing 14% of their national electricity consumption. Wind is a clean,
safe, renewable form of energy.
To a lesser degree, there has been a parallel development in small-scale wind generators for
supplying electricity for battery charging, for stand-alone applications and for connection to
small grids. Table shows the classification system for wind turbines.
Scale Rotor Diameter Power Rating
Micro <3 m 50 W to 2 kW
Small 3 m to 12 m 2 kW to 40 kW
Medium 12 m to 45 m 40 kW to 999
kW
Large >46 m >1 MW
 CHAPTER 2

2.1 Working of Wind Turbine

A wind turbine is a machine that converts the kinetic energy in wind into mechanical
energy. If the mechanical energy is used directly by machinery, such as a pump or grinding
stones, the machine is usually called a windmill. If the mechanical energy is converted to
electricity, the machine is called a wind generator, or more commonly a wind turbine (wind
energy converter WEC).
A wind turbine works the opposite of a fan. Instead of using electricity to make wind,
like a fan, wind turbines use wind to make electricity. The wind turns the blades, which spin a
shaft, which connects to a generator and makes electricity. Utility-scale turbines range in size
from 50 to 750 kilowatts. Single small turbines, below 50 kilowatts, are used for homes,
telecommunications dishes, or water pumping.

The various components of a wind turbine are given below:

Anemometer: Measures the wind speed and transmits wind speed data to the
controller.
 
Blades: Most turbines have either two or three blades. Wind blowing over the
blades causes the blades to "lift" and rotate.
 
Brake: A disc brake which can be applied mechanically, electrically, or
hydraulically to stop the rotor in emergencies.
 
Controller: The controller starts up the machine at wind speeds of about 8 to 16
miles per hour (mph) and shuts off the machine at about 65 mph. Turbines cannot
operate at wind speeds above about 65 mph because their generators could overheat.

Gear box: Gears connect the low-speed shaft to the high-speed shaft and increase
the rotational speeds from about 30 to 60 rotations per minute (rpm) to about 1200
to 1500 rpm, the rotational speed required by most generators to produce electricity.
The gear box is a costly (and heavy) part of the wind turbine and engineers are
exploring "direct-drive" generators that operate at lower rotational speeds and don't
need gear boxes.
 
Generator: Usually an off-the-shelf induction generator that produces 60-cycle AC
electricity.
 
High-speed shaft: Drives the generator.
 
Low-speed shaft: The rotor turns the low-speed shaft at about 30 to 60 rotations per
minute.
 
Nacelle: The rotor attaches to the nacelle, which sits atop the tower and includes the
gear box, low- and high-speed shafts, generator, controller, and brake. A cover
protects the components inside the nacelle. Some nacelles are large enough for a
technician to stand inside while working.
 
Pitch: Blades are turned, or pitched, out of the wind to keep the rotor from turning
in winds that are too high or too low to produce electricity.
 
Rotor: The blades and the hub together are called the rotor.
 
Tower: Towers are made from tubular steel (shown here) or steel lattice. Because
wind speed increases with height, taller towers enable turbines to capture more
energy and generate more electricity.
 
Wind direction: This is an "upwind" turbine, so-called because it operates facing
into the wind. Other turbines are designed to run "downwind", facing away from the
wind.
 
Wind vane: Measures wind direction and communicates with the yaw drive to
orient the turbine properly with respect to the wind.
 
Yaw drive: Upwind turbines face into the wind; the yaw drive is used to keep the
rotor facing into the wind as the wind direction changes. Downwind turbines don't
require a yaw drive, the wind blows the rotor downwind.
 
Yaw motor: Powers the yaw drive.
 CHAPTER 3

3.1 Classifications of wind turbines

Wind turbines can be separated into two types based on the axis about which the
turbine rotates. They are horizontal axis wind turbines and vertical axis wind turbines.
Turbines that rotate around a horizontal axis are more common. Vertical-axis turbines are less
frequently used.

Wind turbines can also be classified by the location in which they are to be used. Onshore,
offshore, or even aerial wind turbines have unique design characteristics.

3.1.1 Horizontal axis

Horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWT) have the main rotor shaft and electrical
generator at the top of a tower, and must be pointed into the wind. Small turbines are pointed
by a simple wind vane, while large turbines generally use a wind sensor coupled with a servo
motor. Most have a gearbox, which turns the slow rotation of the blades into a quicker
rotation that is more suitable for generating electricity.

Since a tower produces turbulence behind it, the turbine is usually pointed upwind of the
tower. Turbine blades are made stiff to prevent the blades from being pushed into the tower
by high winds. Additionally, the blades are placed a considerable distance in front of the
tower and are sometimes tilted up a small amount.

Downwind machines have been built, despite the problem of turbulence, because they don't
need an additional mechanism for keeping them in line with the wind, and because in high
winds, the blades can be allowed to bend which reduces their swept area and thus their wind
resistance. Because turbulence leads to fatigue failures and reliability is so important, most
HAWTs are upwind machines.

There are several types of HAWT:

 
These four- (or more) bladed squat structures, usually with wooden shutters or fabric sails,
were developed in Europe. These windmills were pointed into the wind manually or via a tail-
fan and were typically used to grind grain. In the Netherlands they were also used to pump
water from low-lying land, and were instrumental in keeping its polders dry. Windmills were
also located throughout the USA, especially in the North-eastern region. 
 
3.1.1.1 Modern Rural Windmills
These windmills, invented in 1876 by Griffiths Bros and Co (Australia), were used by
Australian and later American farmers to pump water and to generate electricity. They
typically had many blades, operated at tip speed ratios (defined below) not better than one,
and had good starting torque. Some had small direct-current generators used to charge storage
batteries, to provide a few lights, or to operate a radio receiver. The American rural
electrification connected many farms to centrally-generated power and replaced individual
windmills as a primary source of farm power in the 1950's. Such devices are still used in
locations where it is too costly to bring in commercial power. 
  
Wind turbines near Aalborg, Denmark
A standard doorway can be seen at the base of the pylon for scale
 
 
3.1.1.2 Common modern wind turbines 

Usually three-bladed, sometimes two-bladed or even one-bladed (and counterbalanced), and

pointed into the wind by computer-controlled motors. The rugged three-bladed turbine type
has been championed by Danish turbine manufacturers. These have high tip speeds of up to
6x wind speed, high efficiency, and low torque ripple which contribute to good reliability.
This is the type of turbine that is used commercially to produce electricity. The blades are
usually coloured light gray to blend in with the clouds and range in length from 20 to 40
metres (60 to 120 feet) or more. 

3.1.2 Vertical axis

12 m Windmill with rotational sails in the Osijek Croatia. Vertical-axis wind turbines (or
VAWTs) have the main rotor shaft running vertically. Key advantages of this arrangement are
that the generator and/or gearbox can be placed at the bottom, near the ground, so the tower
doesn't need to support it, and that the turbine doesn't need to be pointed into the wind.
Drawbacks are usually pulsating torque that can be produced during each revolution and drag
created when the blade rotates into the wind. It is also difficult to mount vertical-axis turbines
on towers, meaning they must operate in the often slower, more turbulent air flow near the
ground, resulting in lower energy extraction efficiency.

3.1.2.1 Windmill with rotational sails 

This is a new invention. This windmill starts making electricity above a wind speed of 2m/s.
Its sails contract and expand as the wind speed changes. This windmill has three sails of
variable surface area. The speed is controlled through a magnetic rev counter that expands or
contracts the sails according to wind speed. A (microprocessor type) control unit controls the
sails either manually or automatically. In case of a control unit failure, strong winds would
tear the sails, but the frame would remain intact. 
3.1.2.2 Neo-AeroDynamic 
This has an airfoil base designed to harness the kinetic energy of the fluid flow via an
artificial current around its centre. It is differentiated from others by its capability to unitize
most of the air mass passing through redirecting it to flow over the upper chamber of the
airfoils, and causing a lift force all around. It is applicable not only to wind, but also to a
variety of hydroelectric applications, including free-flow (rivers, creeks), tidal, oceanic
currents and wave motion, via ocean wave surface currents.

30 m Darrieus wind turbine in the Magdalen Islands

 
3.1.2.3 Darrieus wind turbine
"Eggbeater" turbines. They have good efficiency, but produce large torque ripple and cyclic
stress on the tower, which contributes to poor reliability. Also, they generally require some
external power source, or an additional Savonius rotor, to start turning, because the starting
torque is very low. The torque ripple is reduced by using 3 or more blades which results in a
higher solidity for the rotor. Solidity is measured by blade area over the rotor area. Newer
Darrieus type turbines are not held up by guy wires but have an external superstructure
connected to the top bearing. 

3.1.2.4 Giromill 
A type of Darrieus turbine, these lift-type devices have vertical blades. The cycloturbine
varieties have variable pitch to reduce the torque pulsation and are self-starting. The
advantages of variable pitch are: high starting torque; a wide, relatively flat torque curve; a
lower blade speed ratio; a higher coefficient of performance; more efficient operation in
turbulent winds; and a lower blade speed ratio which lowers blade bending stresses. Straight,
V, or curved blades may be used. 
 
3.1.2.5 Savonius wind turbine 
These are drag-type devices with two- (or more) scoops that are used in anemometers, the
Flettner vents (commonly seen on bus and van roofs), and in some high-reliability low-
efficiency power turbines. They always self-starting if there are at least three scoops. They
sometimes have long helical scoops to give a smooth torque. The Banesh rotor and especially
the Rahai rotor improve efficiency with blades shaped to produce significant lift as well as
drag. 
 
 
3.1.2.6 Windstar turbines 
These lift-type devices made by Wind Harvest have straight, extruded aluminum blades
attached at each end to a central rotating shaft and are operated as Linear Array Vortex
Turbine Systems (LAVTS). Vertical-axis rotors each with their own 50-75kW generator are
placed in three to any number of rotors in linear arrays with each rotor’s blades passing within
two feet of its neighbor. In this configuration, the center rotors gain an increase in output and
efficiency (reaching the high efficiencies of HAWTs). This increased efficiency is protected
under patent (number 6784566) as the "vortex effect". Each rotor unit has a dual braking
system of pneumatic disc brakes and blade pitch. The newest Windstar LAVTS stand 50 feet
tall, have 1500 and 3000 square feet of swept area per rotor and are designed to be placed in
the turbulent winds within the understory of wind farms. 

3.1.3 Offshore
Offshore wind turbines near Copenhagen Offshore wind development zones are generally
considered to be ten kilometres or more from land. Offshore wind turbines are less obtrusive
than turbines on land, as their apparent size and noise can be mitigated by distance. Because
water has less surface roughness than land (especially deeper water), the average wind speed
is usually considerably higher over open water. Capacity factors (utilisation rates) are
considerably higher than for onshore and near-shore locations which allow offshore turbines
to use shorter towers, making them less visible.

In stormy areas with extended shallow continental shelves (such as Denmark), turbines are
practical to install — Denmark's wind generation provides about 25-30% of total electricity
demand in the country, with many offshore wind farms. Denmark plans to increase wind
energy's contribution to as much as half of its electrical supply.

In most cases offshore environment is more expensive than onshore. Offshore towers are
generally taller than onshore towers once the submerged height is included, and offshore
foundations are more difficult to build and more expensive. Power transmission from offshore
turbines is generally through undersea cable, which is more expensive to install than cables on
land, and may use high voltage direct current operation if significant distance is to be covered
which then requires yet more equipment. The offshore environment can also be corrosive and
abrasive in salt water locations but locations such as the Great Lakes are in fresh water and do
not have many of the issues found in the ocean or sea. Repairs and maintenance are usually
much more difficult, and generally more costly, than on onshore turbines. Offshore wind
turbines are outfitted with extensive corrosion protection measures like coatings and cathodic
protection however some of these measures may not be required in fresh water locations.

While there is a significant market for small land-based windmills, offshore wind turbines
have recently been and will probably continue to be the largest wind turbines in operation,
because larger turbines allow for the spread of the high fixed costs involved in offshore
operation over a greater quantity of generation, reducing the average cost. For similar reasons,
offshore wind farms tend to be quite large—often involving over 100 turbines—as opposed to
onshore wind farms which can operate competitively even with much smaller installations.
There are some conceptual designs that might make use of the unique offshore environment.
For example, a floating turbine might orient itself downwind of its anchor, and thus avoid the
need for a yawing mechanism. One concept for offshore turbines has them generate rain,
instead of electricity. The turbines would create a fine aerosol, which is envisioned to increase
evaporation and induce rainfall, hopefully on land.

3.1.4 Near-shore
Near-shore turbines are generally considered to be within a zone that is on land three
kilometers of a shoreline and on water within ten kilometers of land. Wind speeds in these
zones share wind speed characteristics of both onshore wind and offshore wind. Issues that
are shared within near-shore wind development zones are ornithological (including bird
migration and nesting), aquatic habitat, transportation (including shipping and boating) and
visual aesthetics.

Sea shores also tend to be windy areas and good sites for turbine installation, because a
primary source of wind is convection from the differential heating and cooling of land and sea
over the course of day and night. Winds at sea level carry somewhat more energy than winds
of the same speed in mountainous areas because the air at sea level is denser.

Near-shore wind farm sitting can sometimes be highly controversial as coastal sites are often
picturesque and environmentally sensitive (for instance, having substantial bird life).

3.1.5 Onshore

Wind turbines near Walla Walla in Washington Onshore turbine installations in hilly or
mountainous regions tend to be on ridgelines generally three kilometres or more inland from
the nearest shoreline. This is done to exploit the topographic acceleration where the hill or
ridge causes the wind to accelerate as it is forced over it. The additional wind speeds gained in
this way make large differences to the amount of energy that is produced. Great attention
must be paid to the exact positions of the turbines (a process known as micro-sitting) because
a difference of 30 m can sometimes mean a doubling in output. Local winds are often
monitored for a year or more with anemometers and detailed wind maps constructed before
wind generators are installed.

For smaller installations where such data collection is too expensive or time consuming, the
normal way of prospecting for wind-power sites is to directly look for trees or vegetation that
are permanently "cast" or deformed by the prevailing winds. Another way is to use a wind-
speed survey map or historical data from a nearby meteorological station, although these
methods are less reliable.
 
Wind farm sitting can sometimes be controversial, particularly as the hilltop, often coastal
sites preferred are often picturesque and environmentally sensitive (for instance, having
substantial bird life). Local residents in a number of potential sites have strongly opposed the
installation of wind farms, and political support has resulted in the blocking of construction of
some installations.

3.2.1 Advantages of vertical wind turbines

 Easier to maintain because most of their moving parts are located near the ground.
This is due to the vertical wind turbine’s shape. The airfoils or rotor blades are
 connected by arms to a shaft that sits on a bearing and drives a generator below,
usually by first connecting to a gearbox. As the rotor blades are vertical, a yaw device
is not needed, reducing the need for this bearing and its cost. 
 Vertical wind turbines have a higher airfoil pitch angle, giving improved
aerodynamics while decreasing drag at low and high pressures. Mesas, hilltops,
ridgelines and passes can have higher and more powerful winds near the ground than
up high because of the speed up effect of winds moving up a slope or funnelling into a
pass combining with the winds moving directly into the site. In these places, VAWTs
placed close to the ground can produce more power than HAWTs placed higher up. 
 Low height useful where laws do not permit structures to be placed high. Smaller
VAWTs can be much easier to transport and install. 
 Does not need a free standing tower so is much less expensive and stronger in high
winds that are close to the ground. Usually have a lower Tip-Speed ratio so less likely
to break in high winds. 
 
3.2.2 Disadvantages of vertical wind turbines
 Most VAWTs produce energy at only 50% of the efficiency of HAWTs in large part
because of the additional drag that they have as their blades rotate into the wind. This
can be overcome by using structures to funnel more and align the wind into the rotor
(e.g. "stators" on early Windstar turbines) or the "vortex" effect of placing straight
bladed VAWTs closely together.
 There may be a height limitation to how tall a vertical wind turbine can be built and
how much sweep area it can have. 
 Most VAWTS need to be installed on a relatively flat piece of land and some sites
could be too steep for them but are still usable by HAWTs.
 Most VAWTs have low starting torque. 
 A VAWT that uses guyed wires to hold it in place puts stress on the bottom bearing as
all the weight of the rotor is on the bearing. Guyed wires attached to the top bearing
increase downward thrust in wind gusts. Solving this problem requires a
superstructure to hold a top bearing in place to eliminate the downward thrusts of gust
events in guyed wired models.
 
3.2.3 Advantages of horizontal wind turbines
 Blades are to the side of the turbine's center of gravity, helping stability. 
 Ability to wing warp, which gives the turbine blades the best angle of attack. Allowing
the angle of attack to be remotely adjusted gives greater control, so the turbine collects
the maximum amount of wind energy for the time of day and season. 
 Ability to pitch the rotor blades in a storm, to minimize damage. 
 Tall tower allows access to stronger wind in sites with wind shear. In some wind shear
sites, every ten meters up, the wind speed can increase by 20% and the power output
by 34%. 
 Tall tower allows placement on uneven land or in offshore locations. 
 Can be sited in forests above the treeline. 
 Most are self-starting. 
 Can be cheaper because of higher production volume, larger sizes and, in general
higher capacity factors and efficiencies. 
 
3.2.4 Disadvantages of horizontal wind turbines
 HAWTs have difficulty operating in near ground, turbulent winds because their yaw
and blade bearing need smoother, more laminar wind flows. 

 The tall towers and long blades (up to 180 feet long) are difficult to transport on the
sea and on land. Transportation can now cost 20% of equipment costs. Tall HAWTs
are difficult to install, needing very tall and expensive cranes and skilled operators. 

 Supply of HAWTs is less than demand and between 2004 and 2006, turbine prices
increased up to 60%. At the end of 2006, all major manufacturers were booked up
with orders through 2008. The FAA has raised concerns about tall HAWTs effects on
radar in proximity to air force bases. Their height can create local opposition based on
impacts to viewsheds. 
 
 Offshore towers can be a navigation problem and must be installed in shallow seas.
HAWTs can't be floated on barges. 

 Downwind variants suffer from fatigue and structural failure caused by

turbulence. 
 
 Horizontal-axis wind turbine aerodynamics

 The aerodynamics of a horizontal-axis wind turbine are complex. The air flow at the
blades is not the same as the airflow far away from the turbine. The very nature of the
way in which energy is extracted from the air also causes air to be deflected by the
turbine. In addition, the aerodynamics of a wind turbine at the rotor surface includes
effects that are rarely seen in other aerodynamic fields.
 CHAPTER 4

4.1 Wind Power generation in India

The development of wind power in India began in the 1990s, and has significantly increased
in the last few years. Although a relative newcomer to the wind industry compared with
Denmark or the US, India has the fifth largest installed wind power capacity in the world.

As of 31 October 2009 the installed capacity of wind power in India was 11806.69 MW,
mainly spread across Tamil Nadu (4900.765 MW), Maharashtra (1945.25 MW), Gujarat
(1580.61 MW), Karnataka (1350.23 MW), Rajasthan (745.5 MW), Madhya Pradesh (212.8
MW), Andhra Pradesh (132.45 MW), Kerala (46.5 MW), Orissa (2MW), West Bengal (1.1
MW) and other states (3.20 MW). It is estimated that 6,000 MW of additional wind power
capacity will be installed in India by 2012. Wind power accounts for 6% of India's total
installed power capacity, and it generates 1.6% of the country's power.

India is the world's fifth largest wind power producer, with an annual power production of
8,896 MW. The worldwide installed capacity of wind power reached 157,899 MW by the end
of 2009. USA (35,159 MW), Germany (25,777 MW), Spain (19,149 MW) and China (25,104
MW) are ahead of India in fifth position. The short gestation periods for installing wind
turbines, and the increasing reliability and performance of wind energy machines has made
wind power a favoured choice for capacity addition in India.

Suzlon, as Indian-owned company, emerged on the global scene in the past decade, and by
2006 had captured almost 7.7 percent of market share in global wind turbine sales. Suzlon is
currently the leading manufacturer of wind turbines for the Indian market, holding some 52
percent of market share in India. Suzlon’s success has made India the developing country
leader in advanced wind turbine technology.

4.2 State-level wind power

There is a growing wind energy installation in number of states across India.

Tamil Nadu (4889.765 MW)

Tamil Nadu is the state with the most wind generating capacity: 4889.765 MW at the end of
March 2010. Not far from Aralvaimozhi, the Muppandal wind farm, the largest in the
subcontinent, is located near the once impoverished village of Muppandal, supplying the
villagers with electricity for work. The village had been selected as the showcase for India's
$2 billion clean energy program which provides foreign companies with tax breaks for
establishing fields of wind turbines in the area. In February 2009, Shriram EPC bagged INR
700 million contracts for setting up of 60 units of 250 KW (totalling 15 MW) wind turbines
in Tirunelveli district by Cape Energy. Enercon is also playing a major role in development
of wind energy in India. In Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore and Tiruppur Districts having more
wind Mills from 2002 onwards, especially, Chittipalayam, Kethanoor, Gudimangalam,
Poolavadi,Murungappatti (MGV Place),Sunkaramudaku,KongalNagaram,Gomangalam,
Anthiur are the high wind power production places in the both districts.
Maharashtra (1942.25 MW)

Maharashtra is second only to Tamil Nadu in terms of generating capacity. Suzlon has been
heavily involved. Suzlon operates what was once Asia's largest wind farm, the Vankusawade
Wind Park (201 MW), near the Koyna reservoir in Satara district of Maharashtra.

Gujarat (1782 MW)

Samana &sadodar in jamanagar district is set to host energy companies like China Light
Power (CLP) and Tata Power have pledged to invest up to Rs.8.15 billion ($189.5 million) in
different projects in the area. CLP, through its India subsidiary CLP India, is investing close
to Rs.5 billion for installing 126 wind turbines in Samana that will generate 100.8 MW
power. Tata Power has installed wind turbines in the same area for generating 50 MW power
at a cost of Rs.3.15 billion. Both projects are expected to become operational by early next
year, according to government sources. The Gujarat government, which is banking heavily on
wind power, has identified Samana as an ideal location for installation of 450 turbines that
can generate a total of 360 MW. To encourage investment in wind energy development in the
state, the government has introduced a raft of incentives including a higher wind energy
tariff. Samana has a high tension transmission grid and electricity generated by wind turbines
can be fed into it. For this purpose, a substation at Sadodar has been installed. Both projects
are being executed by Enercon Ltd, a joint venture between Enercon of Germany and
Mumbai-based Mehra group.

ONGC Ltd has commissioned its first wind power project. The 51 MW project is located at
Motisindholi in Kutch district of Gujarat. ONGC had placed the EPC order on Suzlon Energy
in January 2008, for setting up the wind farm comprising 34 turbines of 1.5-mw each. Work
on the project had begun in February 2008, and it is learnt that the first three turbines had
begun production within 43 days of starting construction work. Power from this Rs 308 crore
captive wind farm will be wheeled to the Gujarat state grid for onward use by ONGC at its
Ankleshwar, Ahmedabad, Mehsana and Vadodara centres. ONGC has targeted to develop a
captive wind power capacity of around 200 MW in the next two years.

Karnataka (1340.23 MW)

There are many small wind farms in Karnataka, making it one of the states in India which has
a high number of wind mill farms. Chitradurga, Gadag are some of the districts where there
are a large number of Windmills. Chitradurga alone has over 20000 wind turbines.

The 13.2 MW Arasinagundi (ARA) and 16.5 MW Anaburu (ANA) wind farms are
ACCIONA’S first in India. Located in the Davangere district, they have a total installed
capacity of 29.7 MW and comprise a total 18 Vestas 1.65MW wind turbines supplied by
Vestas Wind Technology India Pvt. Ltd.

The ARA wind farm was commissioned in June 2008 and the ANA wind farm, in September
2008. Each facility has signed a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Bangalore
Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) for off-take of 100% of the output. ARA and ANA
are Acciona’s first wind farms eligible for CER credits under the Clean Development
Mechanism (CDM).
ACCIONA is in talks with the World Bank for The Spanish Carbon Fund which is assessing
participation in the project as buyer for CERs likely to arise between 2010 and 2012. An
environmental and social assessment has been conducted as part of the procedure and related
documents have been provided. These are included below, consistent with the requirement of
the World Bank's disclosure policy.

Rajasthan (738.5 MW)

Gurgaon-headquartered Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd is in an advanced stage of

commissioning a large wind farm in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan. A senior official told
Projectmonitor that out of the total 31.5 mw capacity, 12 mw had been completed so far. The
remaining capacity would come on line shortly, he added. For the INOX Group Company,
this would be the largest wind farm. In 2006-07, GFL commissioned a 23.1-mw wind power
project at Gudhe village near Panchgani in Satara district of Maharashtra. Both the wind
farms will be grid-connected and will earn carbon credits for the company, the official noted.
In an independent development, cement major ACC Ltd has proposed to set up a new wind
power project in Rajasthan with a capacity of around 11 mw. Expected to cost around Rs 60
crore, the wind farm will meet the power requirements of the company's Lakheri cement unit
where capacity was raised from 0.9 million tpa to 1.5 million tpa through a modernisation
plan. For ACC, this would be the second wind power project after the 9-mw farm at
Udayathoor in Tirunelvelli district of Tamil Nadu. Rajasthan is emerging as an important
destination for new wind farms, although it is currently not amongst the top five states in
terms of installed capacity. As of 2007 end, this northern state had a total of 496 mw,
accounting for a 6.3 per cent share in India's total capacity.

Madhya Pradesh (212.8 MW)

In consideration of unique concept, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh has sanctioned another 15 MW

project to MPWL at Nagda Hills near Dewas. All the 25 WEGs have been commissioned on
31.03.2008 and under successful operation.

Kerala (26.5 MW)

The first wind farm of the state was set up at Kanjikode in Palakkad district. It has a
generating capacity of 23.00 MW. A new wind farm project was launched with private
participation at Ramakkalmedu in Idukki district. The project, which was inaugurated by
chief minister V. S. Achuthanandan in April 2008, aims at generating 10.5 MW of electricity.

The Agency for Non-Conventional Energy and Rural Technology (ANERT), an autonomous
body under the Department of Power, Government of Kerala, is setting up wind farms on
private land in various parts of the state to generate a total of 600 mw of power. The agency
has identified 16 sites for setting up wind farms through private developers. To start with,
ANERT will establish a demonstration project to generate 2 mw of power at Ramakkalmedu
in Idukki district in association with the Kerala State Electricity Board. The project is slated
to cost Rs 21 crore. Other wind farm sites include Palakkad and Thiruvananthapuram
districts. The contribution of non-conventional energy in the total 6,095 mw power potential
is just 5.5 per cent, a share the Kerala government wants to increase by 30 per cent. ANERT
is engaged in the field of development and promotion of renewable sources of energy in
Kerala. It is also the nodal agency for implementing renewable energy programmes of the
Union ministry of non-conventional energy sources.
West Bengal (1.10MW)

The total installation in West Bengal is just 1.10 MW as there was only 0.5 MW addition in
2006-2007 and none between 2007–2008 and 2008–2009

Bengal - Mega 50 MW wind energy project soon for country.

Suzlon Energy Ltd plans to set up a large wind-power project in West Bengal 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.

4.3 India’s Potential in wind power generation

India has a coastal area of more than 6000 km. So this makes the availability of wind energy,
with considerable speed, at a really high value. The factors which depend on the capacity of
electricity that could be generated are:

1. Quality of wind potential.

2. Land availability for wind power generation

3. Seasonal changes in the wind speed and availability.

According to an assessment of AWS Truewind, India has a wind potential of 65000MW.

There are land areas with excellent wind project potential where wind speeds exceeds 9 m/s
at 80m hub height in same of the higher elevations. Lower elevation areas also show promise
with speeds at 100m height ranging from 6.5 m/s to 8 m/s. The significant resource coupled
with continued government support makes India a very attractive location for wind
development.

4.4 Environmental concerns

Wind power is a clean renewable energy source. There are, however some environmental
considerations to keep in mind when planning a wind power scheme. They include the
following:

• Electromagnetic interference - some television frequency bands are susceptible to

interference from wind generators.
• Noise - wind rotors, gearboxes and generators create acoustic noise when functioning; this
needs to be considered when sitting a machine.
• Visual impact - modern wind machines are large objects and have a significant visual
Impact on their surroundings. Some argue that it is a positive visual impact, others to the
contrary.

4.5 Cost - economics

The cost of producing electricity from the wind is heavily dependent on the local wind
regime. As mentioned earlier the power output from the wind machine is proportional to cube
of the wind speed and so a slight increase in wind speed will mean a significant increase in
power and a subsequent reduction in unit costs. Capital costs for wind power are high, but
running costs are low and so access to initial funds, subsidies or low interest loans are an
obvious advantage when considering a wind-electric system. If a hybrid system is used a
careful cost-benefit analysis needs to be carried out. A careful matching of the load and
energy supply options should be made to maximise the use of the power from the wind - a
load which accepts a variable input is ideally matched to the intermittent nature of wind
power.
 CHAPTER 5
5.1 Conclusion
In India, renewable energy sources are in abundance, which can contribute
significantly to its growing energy demand. Wind energy technology is currently making a
significant contribution to the electric power generation in India; however, recently China has
overtaken India to the fourth position in the world in terms of installed wind power capacity.
Therefore, if India has to match the growth rate in the global wind energy sector, outstanding
regulatory and policy issues need to be urgently addressed. Wind power penetration is not
constrained by technical problems with wind power technology, but by regulatory,
institutional, and market barriers. It is observed that the presence of such non-economic
barriers have a significant negative impact on the effectiveness of policies to develop wind
power, irrespective of the type of incentive scheme. At present, there are several financial and
fiscal incentives provided to the wind power producers at the federal and state government
level; however, unstable policies of the state governments as observed in the past and poor
institutional framework increase the risk associated in the wind sector. A preliminary
assessment of the status of wind power development in potential states of India indicates that
there should be a stable and uniform national policy to make wind power projects financially
attractive across the country. For the large-scale penetration of wind energy in India it is
critically important to assess realistic potential estimates and identify niche areas to exploit
the wind energy resource.

It is observed that in India, even with highly favourable assumptions, the

dissemination of wind energy for power generation is not likely to reach its maximum
utilization potential in another 20 years. The growth trends of wind power development in the
six Indian states indicate that more than 90% of wind energy potential in India can be
exploited by 2030. Apart from the above, installation of high-powered wind turbines in the
place of old, lower capacity machines, intercropping of small windmills among bigger
machines, development of offshore wind farms and development of hybrid turbines are some
of the important needs toward the rapid growth of wind industry in India.