Wind generation goes down due to rain

On August 11, wind mills recorded this year’s highest evening peak load generation of 4144 MW and supplied 84.35 million units to the grid. But on August 18, wind power generation during evening peak load has come down to 127 MW and day’s total energy generation stood at mere 3.83 MU.

“Last three days, wind generation has dropped due to rain. Lowest generation of this season was recorded on Monday when the wind mills produced mere 3.238 MU,” Indian Wind Power Association chairman Prof K. Kasthurirangaian told DC.

However, he said on Wednesday, the winds have resumed after the rains stopped in the state. “Wind generation will increase and it will last till September end,” he said, pointing out that only last week, on August 11, the windmills contributed 29 per cent of the state’s total energy consumption of 288 MU.

S. R. Ramanan, director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, Regional Meteorological Centre, attributed the drop in wind speed to the upper air circulation over the Lakshadweep and adjoining southeast Arabian sea affecting westerly winds. “The change in wind pattern affected wind power generation. It is quite normal for wind going down on certain days and picking up on certain days,” he noted.

Though wind power generation has dropped by 94 per cent over a week’s time, it did not affect the state’s power supply. “Wind generation has dropped drastically due to rain. However, the wide spread rain has brought down the power demand in the state too,” a senior Tangedco official said. The state’s daily energy consumption has come down to 268 MU on Tuesday from 298 MU on Friday.