Sustaining the gains in wind energy generation, addressing the policy gaps in encouraging investments in the renewable energy will be some of the issues to be addressed at Wind Power India 2012.
Addressing a curtain raiser on the three-day conference and exhibition, which is starting on Wednesday, Ramesh Kymal, Chairman, Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association, said wind energy has emerged a viable source of clean power and has supplemented conventional energy. In Tamil Nadu, where over 7,000 MW of wind power capacity is available, it supplied a third of the energy during the summer proving itself a dependable source of electricity.
However, the growth in capacities has been hit by policy shortfalls at the Central and State level. Withdrawing generation based incentives, cutting back on accelerated depreciation to about 35 per cent from 80 per cent previously and non-enforcement of renewable purchase obligation has hit the pace of investments. Tamil Nadu has levied transmission charge of Rs 1.30 a unit, which makes it expensive for captive power producers, he said.
Industry experts and Government representatives will be able to debate the issue at the seminar to be inaugurated by Farooq Abdullah, Minister for New and Renewable Energy.
Madhusudan Khemka, Vice-Chairman of the Association, said issues such as evacuation infrastructure constraints and grid availability will hit the renewable energy sector as a whole. Delayed payments by State Electricity Boards also handicap the sector.
The event includes a two-day conference and a three-day exhibition with international participation. Global players will be showcasing new products and components. A session on small wind energy generators is also being organised, said the Association representatives.