Ghodawat Energy to setup 200 MW Wind Power Projects

May 12, 2010 8:43 am

Ghodawat Energy to setup 200 MW Wind Power Projects
 
Ghodawat Energy Pvt. Ltd. (GEPL) is one of the leaders in offering end-to-end solutions for wind power development. The Company considers Maharashtra as the hub of its business due to high wind density and good tariff as compared to other potential states identified by the government. Shrenik Ghodawat, Managing Director, GEPL speaks about the recent trend in wind power market.
 
Please brief us about the business activities of GEPL.
Sanjay Ghodawat Group’s Ghodawat Energy Pvt. Ltd. (GEPL) spearheads environment conservation by offering end-to-end solutions in wind power development. The Group forayed into the Wind Power Generation in 1997 followed by Tower Manufacturing in 2004 and Turbine Manufacturing (A green field Project) in 2009. With an experience of over a decade, today it owns and operates over 150 wind turbines, which generates over 100 MW of electricity in various states of India. Unparalleled expertise in all aspects relating to R&D, manufacturing, installing and maintaining of wind power projects has earned GEPL tremendous repute. 
GEPL is also a key component supplier in the wind power sector. It is working diligently towards making wind an increasingly viable and competitive part of the global energy matrix.
 
Wind Turbine Division: GEPL manufactures Wind Turbines under the technology license of AMSC-Windtec GmbH. 1.65 MW WEC’s are manufactured with various advanced options for the global market.
 
Wind Power Division: With an investment of over $112 Million (INR 500 Crores); the group has set up wind farms in Indian states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Gujarat. This electricity is sold to the state electricity boards as well as to the private industries. The production capacity of these farms is 100MW.
 
Wind Tower Division: This plant, Shrenik Industries Pvt. Ltd., which is 100% subsidiary of GEPL, was tailor-made for manufacturing Tubular Type Wind Turbine Towers. The installed capacity of the unit is 400 towers per annum. It holds the best of the wind industry as its clientele.
 
Today, your Company owns and operates more than 150 wind turbines which generates over 100 MW of electricity in India. What is your opinion about economic viability of wind power generation and transmission?
Wind power generation is an economically viable mode of power generation of all the renewable power technologies existing in the market. Though there have been few bottlenecks related to grid penetration, government’s serious efforts in this direction will help overcome this hurdle too.
The upcoming financial models under which the power generated from Wind farms can be traded in an open market; have made wind power a more lucrative investment avenue.
 
The Government of India is adopting several approaches in promoting renewable energy. How do you foresee the potential of wind power market in India?
As per C-WET data India is still left with more than 35000 MW at 50 mt hub height out of which maximum sites are of class II and class III. Moreover peak demand shortage is also surging at 15% so there is enormous scope of wind power in India.
The Government of India is promoting renewable energy by launching many policies like; Generation based incentives, renewable energy certificates, Renewable Power Purchase Obligation etc. These policies/incentives will encourage the investors to invest in wind sector to gain maximum benefits.
 
Can you highlight the factors which encourage the investors to invest in wind power market in India?
•      80% Accelerated Depreciation on specified Wind Energy Converter in the first year of installation of the projects
•      10 years Tax Holiday on Wind Power Projects
•      Generation Based Incentives for IPPs who do not avail depreciation benefits
•      Introduction of tradable commodities like renewable energy certificates.
 
In Union Budget 2010-11, the plan outlay for new and renewable energy has been increased by 61 percent from Rs. 620 crores to Rs. 1,000 crores. How do you see this initiative?
This is a good initiative from the government which reflects its commitment to sustainable development of energy resources.
Primarily, the research and development in wind energy sector has been in private hands, because of which wind energy has become most economically viable energy resource of all the RE sources. Since wind is a self-sustained and financially viable energy option it may not receive much benefit from this plan. But other sources which are yet to mature as a commercially viable energy option will benefit the most through this arrangement.
 

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