The exploitation of wind energy has
been in place from time immemorial but the development of technology which is available
for tapping the same for generation of grid quality electricity is of a recent
origin. According to a recent estimate,
the gross wind power generation potential is estimated at 45,195 MW at 50 Mtr.
Hub Height. Hub height is known as the height from the Ground Level at which
the hub of the windmill or the hub of the propeller blades of the wind energy
generator is situated upon. The state wise potential and installed capacity is usually
given.
Wind resource
potential
The wind power generation is
influenced to a great extent by the wind speed and wind power density which is prevalent
at a particular potential location at any given point in time. The wind speed
is affected to a large extent, starting in most regions in May-June, and at the
same time by the winter months. It has been generally observed that 60-70% of
the total wind power generation in most regions takes place during the period
of June- October. According to a latest study, locations having an annual mean
wind power density greater than 150 watts/ square meter at 30 meter hub height
have been found to be suitable for development of wind power projects.
Wind power
generator manufacturing technology which is available
The wind turbines which are installed
should be predominantly of the “fixed pitch” type. The degree by which
the wind energy generator propeller blades can be made to tilt through
mechanical or electrical controls is known as the pitch of the wind energy
generators. However, with technological advancement, the use of wind energy
generator with better aerodynamic designs, lighter and larger blades made up of
fibre glass material with epoxy coating, higher tubular towers, direct mesh
drive and variable speed gearless operation using advanced power electronics is
gaining much momentum.
Technological advancement is being
made nowadays for complete elimination or reduction in reactive power
consumption by the wind energy generators. Reactive power is known as the power
which is required for cutting the electromagnetic field generated within the
armature coil of the electrical generator of a wind energy generator under
static condition for it to rotate and generate electrical power. The unit size
of the wind energy generators has also gone up from 55-100 KW to 400-750KW for
commercial projects being implemented presently most regions.
Barriers in wind
power development
Despite the availability of various financial
incentives and availability of technological know-how, the development of wind
power is still very tardy in most regions. The main bottlenecks for large-scale
development of wind power in regions can be attributed to the following:
- Distortions in the energy market
- Stiff competition from subsidized conventional energy and its universal acceptability
- Lack of awareness and organizational skill required for propagating the technology
- Technological constraints for limited level of grid penetration
- Inappropriate estimation of the power load that is to be served by the wind energy generator
- Lack of adequate capital at affordable cost
- Laborious and tardy procedure for site allocation
Need of the hour
Urgent efforts are required for the
design and development of low cost, simple to use wind turbines. The
manufacturers who have a tie up with foreign firms should see that the level of
indenization of the wind energy generators is increased so that the plant and
machinery cost is reduced.
Suitable extension mechanism has to be
devised wherein the benefits of development of wind power can be disseminated
to all the rural communities around, village panchayats so that collective
organizational skills can be developed maximally. Simple, easy to understand
and lucid techniques should be devised which can help in correct estimation of
power requirement at various power-consuming units.
The various agencies which provide
institutional finance have got a key role to play by providing finance to the
promoters at concessional rate of interest, repayment period matching to the
level of annual revenue which are available for repayment of debt, provision of
adequate grace period, rationalization of the process of creation of charge by
the bankers on the securities of the promoters and so on.
Investment
components of project for installation of wind energy generators having an
installed capacity of 1.00 MW
The various investment components of
project for installation of wind energy generators are as
follows:
Land, layout plan
and site development requirement:
In investment components, the land
requirement for installation of the wind energy generators will depend greatly upon
the total installed capacity of the wind farm. The site should have been
identified or its state level sister agencies for its potentiality for
development of wind power based on technical parameters such as average yearly
wind speed, wind power density, wind direction and so on. The average yearly
wind speed of the site should be greater than the minimum cut-in wind speed for
the specific wind energy generator proposed to be installed. Micro sitting at
the site should also have been done or concerned state level agency. Non
agricultural land should invariably be used for installation of the wind energy
generators. A minimum distance of seven times the rotor diameter should be
maintained between two adjacent wind energy generators which are installed in a
single row, whereas a minimum row to row distance of three times the rotor
diameter should be maintained between two wind energy generators. Therefore,
approximately an area of 4.00 acre is required for installation of 1.00 MW
capacity wind power plant.
Civil
construction
As a thumb rule approximately 2.30% of
the total project cost involved in a 1.00 MW capacity wind energy farm is used
towards meeting the cost of civil infrastructure. The cost include
construction of sheds for installation of the control panel, metering
unit, construction of foundation for the lattice/ tubular tower on top of which
the wind energy generators is to be housed.
Plant and
Machinery:
In the proposed model project four numbers
of wind energy generators are proposed to be installed. Some of the important
technical specifications of the machines have been presented in most models.
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