Wind Energy

Common policy sought for wind energy in all States in India

At its annual general meeting here recently, the association, through a resolution, appealed to the Union Ministry of Power to ensure that all State utilities adopt a uniform policy for wind energy, especially for wheeling and banking charges.

The funds for installing new transmission lines and sub-stations should be granted from the Clean Energy Fund. Incentives should be granted for those who go in for taller machines, replacing old turbines. The Ministry for New and Renewable Energy should take up feasibility study for offshore wind energy generation. It should also come out with a Renewable Energy Law.

The accelerated depreciation scheme should be reintroduced to encourage installations of wind mills by the small and medium-scale units. Wind energy investments should be exempted from Minimum Alternate Tax, the resolution said.

The association appealed to the State Government to ensure that the banking scheme was continued for wind energy generators. Those having wind mills for captive use should be permitted to use banked energy without any time limit. The payments for energy supplied to the grid should be prompt. It should be on a monthly basis.

The State utility can go in for re-banking of the energy with electricity boards of other States to avoid losses.

Educational institutions should start courses related to wind energy as the man power requirement for installation, operation and maintenance of wind mills was going up, the resolution summed up.

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