Chapter 11

Tamil Nadu has done very well in promoting and harnessing renewable sources of energy particularly wind and bagasse based power generation. With a view to develop and propagate the non-conventional sources of energy, the Tamilnadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA) was formed in 1985. Right from its inception TEDA has been serving as a promotional agency for promoting renewable energy sources. It is also functioning as the State's nodal agency for the Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources (MNES, Govt. of India) for implementing Centrally funded and sponsored schemes in the State. During the past 17 years TEDA has conducted sustained campaign to promote harnessing of renewable energy with active support from the Government of India and the State Government.

(i) The total installed capacity under Renewable Energy Sources in Tamilnadu has reached 1090 MW as on 31.10.2002, which is 13% of the total TNEB grid capacity, while at the All India level, it is only 3%.

(ii) The harnessing of Wind Energy is the highest in Tamilnadu with an installed capacity of 857 MW as against the All India level of 1612 MW, which is 53%. The Wind power generation capacity achieved by the end of 2002-2003 was 990 Mw and during 2003-2004, it is expected that a capacity of 1000 Mw would be achieved. Thus, Tamil Nadu would continue to be in the forefront of wind power generation.

(iii) Under Baggasse and biomass based power generations also, Tamilnadu stands first in the country with an installed capacity of 182 MW as against the All India Level of 450 MW. The development has been made possible mainly due to Private Investment taking advantage of the policy initiatives of the Government of Tamilnadu.

TEDA is also promoting the use of various stand alone systems using Wind, Solar and Bio Energy under various subsidy schemes of Central and State Governments. The use of renewable energy by the industries and the public will considerably reduce the dependence on fast depleting conventional energy sources such as coal, oil etc and prevent the damage to environment. The renewable energy potential and achievements under various programmes as on 31.3.2002 in Tamilnadu are given below:

Renewable Energy potential and achievements

Sl.No.	Source/System	Approved potential in Tamil Nadu	Achievements as on 31.3.2002		% of achievement in Tamilnadu over All India
			Tamilnadu	All India
1.	Wind Energy	3000 MW	857MW	1612 MW	53%
2. a. b.	Bio Energy Biomass Power including Co-generation in Sugar Industries Biomass Gasifier	500 MW 500 MW	154 MW 2 MW	381 MW 41 MW	40% 5%
3. a.	Solar Energy Solar Photovoltaic devices, Lantern, Street light, Home Light,Pumps, Power Plant	20/sq m2	0.5 MW	47 MW	1%
b.	Solar thermal devices - Solar Water Heating System, Air Heating System	1.5 million m2 collector area	22000 m2	10.59 million m2 collector area	3.50%
4.	Energy from Waste	100 MW	1.7 MW (under implementation)	17 MW	10%

The main function of TEDA is to popularise and promote the use of the renewable energy devices in the State. In the field of power generation (grid connected) especially from Wind and Biomass, TEDA evolved policies/strategies to facilitate Private Investment in the State to a large extent.

In the case of solar energy, though the potential available is quite enormous, its harnessing is very insignificant due to its high cost at present. Government of India is providing subsidy for certain items, such as solar lighting devices, pumps, but not for solar water heating system, air heating system etc. In the case of pumps, because of the very high cost, State subsidy over and above Central subsidy is essential to enable the farmers to use them instead of waiting for EB connection.

Tamil Nadu has achieved 100% electrification of all villages. But, there are still many remote habitations to be electrified. Tamil Nadu Electricity Board had identified 1005 Tribal habitations which are to be provided at least street lights out of which, 150 remote habitations in hilly areas could not be electrified by conventional means due to the problem of forest clearance and high cost. Hence, electrification of these remote habitations has to be taken up using renewable energy sources at a cost of Rs.15 crores including subsidy from Governent of India. Solar energy is the best option to provide electricity to these habitations and fulfill the Government's important goal of providing electricity to all villages in the State by 2010. Government of India is prepared to meet 50% of the cost (Rs.10 lakh / habitation) and the balance has to be met by the State Government. For installing Solar water Heaters in Government hospitals and private industries / institutions, a sum of Rs.11.94 lakhs has been proposed as subsidy component during 2003-2004.

(i) Biomass - It is proposed to increase additional power generation by 300 Mw in the next two years by encouraging private entrepreneurs to set up new biomass based power plants using biomass such as wood and other agricultural wastes. In addition, the Governemnt is allotting a sum of Rs. 43.50 lakhs in the first phase for sanction as subsidy for installing one Nightsoil based biogas plant in each district.

(ii) Awareness campaign- The Government is allotting Rs.5 lakhs for conducting seminars in all districts for the representatives of Panchayats / local Bodies, industries and N.G.Os. to improve awareness and promote the use of renewable energy.

(iii) Solar Air Heating - The Government is providing Rs. 4061 lakhs in the first phase for sanction as subsidy for solar air heating /drying for processing dhall,fruits,agricultural products, fiah and leather to meet their thermal needs.

The expenditure during 2002-03 is anticipated to be Rs.130.51 lakhs. An outlay of Rs.197.51 lakhs has been proposed for the year 2003-04 which is inclusive of repayment of Integrated Rural Energy Development Agency (IREDA) loan with interest for the 50 S.P.V pumps installed under 1993-94 programme, maintenance of Permanent three Wind Monitoring Stations, namely, Muppandal (Aralvoymozhi Pass), Kayathar (Shenkottah Pass) and Kethanur (Palghat Pass), I.R.E.P. Scheme cost, T.E.D.A. staff cost and Publicity.

Hill Area Development Programme

For the scheme, of giving assistance for Rural Energy Conservation under Hill Area Development Programme the expenditure during 2002-03 is anticipated to be Rs.17.80 lakhs.

B) Assistance to Non-conventional Energy Sector under HADP.

The expenditure anticipated during 2002-03 for the scheme of giving assistance to non-conventional energy sector under HADP is Rs.212.06 lakhs. A sum of Rs.222.67 lakhs has been proposed for the above scheme for 2003-04.

Annual Plan 2003-04 - Outlay

The details of proposed outlay for Part-I (Ongoing Schemes) and Part-II (New Schemes) for the year 2003-04 are shown below:

Sl.No. & Name of the Scheme	Total (Rs. in lakhs)
1. Electrification of 20 Nos. Remote Habitations	100.00
2. Solar Water Heating System 1. Domestic - 174 Nos. 2. Industrial - 10 Nos. 3. Government Hostels/Institutions - 1 No.	5.74 2.20 4.00
3. Solar Air Heating Systems (334 Sq.m + 105 Sq.m) - 439 Sq.m.	4.61
4. Microlevel study (2 Nos.)	5.00
5. Nightsoil biogas plant (1 No.)	1.50
6. SPV Pump (3 Nos.)	1.95
Total	125.00

N.C.E.S. - Annual Plan 2003-04

Head of Development / Schemes	Actual Exp. 2001-02	Provision for 2002-03	Anticipated Expenditure 2002-03	Proposed outlay for 2003-04
I. N.C.E.S.	172.25	130.51	130.51	197.51
II. H.A.D.P.	255.01	199.90	229.86	233.17
Total N.C.E.S.	427.26	330.41	360.37	430.68