World Wind Energy Award–2005 conferred on Shri Muttemwar
India occupies 4th position in Wind Power generation capacity
Shri Vilas Muttemwar, Minister for Non-Conventional Energy Sources and his Ministry has been honoured with the World Wind Energy Award–2005 for Outstanding Achievements in Favourable Policies for Wind Energy making India one of the leading wind energy countries worldwide. The Award was presented to Shri Muttemwar recently by the World Wind Energy Association (WWEA) during closing ceremony of World Wind Energy Conference held at Melbourne, Australia. Besides other proactive measures for building wind power generation capacities, the excellent growth could be possible due to conducive investment environment in terms of concessional duties, easy loans and accelerated depreciation.
India has made tremendous progress in Renewable Energy especially in wind sector in the last few years. The grid-connected power generation through wind energy has crossed 4,228 MW making India 4th largest wind power generating country in the world after Germany, Spain and US. India attained 4th position by overtaking Denmark in March this year. New capacity addition in the sector grew four-fold from 2002-2003 to 2004-2005 which include 242 MW in 2002-2003, 615.2 MW in 2003-2004 and 1,111.7 MW in 2004-2005. This year, 631.9 MW generation capacity through Wind Energy has been set up till 30th September, 2005. The leading states in this area are Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Gujarat among others. The progress in promoting wind energy power generation is also marked by setting up Asia’s largest Wind farm at Satara in Maharashtra state with 750 MW power capacity.
In addition, the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources has prepared Master Plans for 97 potential sites aggregating to 15,062 MW wind power potential in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. The Master Plans provide information on the availability of wind, land, grid availability and accessibility to the site. This enables project promoters and state nodal agencies to undertake proper planning and implementation of the projects. The Master Plans have been provided to the state nodal agencies and are made available to project promoters, developers, and consultants through the Centre for Wind Energy Technology (C-WET), an autonomous body under the Ministry, at a nominal cost. The Master Plans are also under preparation for more such sites.
The World Wind Energy Award is given annually to persons with unique merits for the worldwide proliferation of wind energy. Prof. Dr. Amjn Mobarak, Chairman of the industry and Energy Committee of the Egyptian Parliament received the first award in 2002. The World Wind Energy Award 2003 went to the wind turbine manufacturer Suzlon under the leadership of Mr. Tulsi Tanti and the Award for 2004 was jointly given to the German Minister for the Environment Mr. Jorgen Trittin and a German Parliamentarian.
RCJ/RS World Wind Energy-8.11.05
(Release ID :13142)