Bid to tap wind energy in Dhanushkodi

CHENNAI: The Centre for Wind Energy Technology (CWET) will set up an assessment mast in Dhanushkodi near Rameswaram to tap offshore wind energy potential and the data will be generated by the end of this year or next year, according to chairman and managing director of Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency Sudeep Jain.Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a seminar on ‘Innovative Technologies in Environment and Clean Energy from Japan — Seeking Business Opportunities’ organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Japan External Trade Organisation, he said the State government had tied up with the Ministry of Non-renewable Energy since the sea bed was outside the perimeter of the State government. He said the plan was to tap the entire coast of Tamil Nadu for offshore windmill and that there were plans to tap Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC). Jain further said the State government had embarked on a plan to build 60,000 solar-powered green homes for people living below the poverty line across the State. The state government has called for international bids for setting up solar street lights and solar home lights by March 15 and 16. Jain also said the Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency was organising RENERGY 2012, an International conference and expo on renewable energy here on March 12 and 13. He also said that the State would announce a renewable energy policy soon to facilitate investments in renewable energy power generation projects for which the State had set a target of 10,640 mw for the next five years. The State would also come out with an exclusive solar power policy.