Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka Boast Solid Wind Power Potential at 80-Meter and 100-Meter Hub Heights

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Written by Richard Finlayson, Senior International Editor for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have wastelands and scrub forest available for windfarms that hold promise for major project developments. At 100-meter hub height, Karnataka has 71,000 megawatts (MW) and Andhra Pradesh 115,000 MW available from wasteland and scrub forest terrain. Subject to clearances from the forestry department, sites could be prioritized for development.

At 80-meter wind turbine hub heights, Andhra Pradesh's wind power potential is assessed to be at least 88,000 MW and Karnataka has about 49,000 MW potential. In Andhra Pradesh, about 64,000 MW out of the total potential is available at sites with net capacity utilization factors (CUF) above 25%; in Karnataka, about 27,000 MW is available such sites.

According to the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), 10 sites for which field visits were undertaken were found to match the land use type indicated by satellite land use data and were unoccupied.

If 5% of all suitable land situated at more than 300-watt-per-square-meter wind power density were to be considered for mixed land use, potential in the two states from agricultural lands is 20,000 MW in Karnataka and 12,000 MW in Andhra Pradesh at 80-meter hub height, and 32,000 MW in Karnataka and 18,000 MW in Andhra Pradesh at 100-meter hub height.

The CSTEP report said that the potential available at higher heights of up to 100 meters is not a constraint for large-scale generation. Power storage schemes, such as pumped storage, will be important for the sector's development. The central government's planning commission has indicated interest in setting up a national wind mission in the 12th Five-Year Plan (2012-17).

The study used an assessment of the availability of wind resources, land, and transmission networks for rapid wind power development that was based on geographical information systems.

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