TIRUNELVELI: The total power generation in Tamil Nadu during the last ten days has registered a gradual reduction from 8262 mw on September 16 to 6974 mw on September 26ss. As on Saturday, power stations in the state generated 38 per cent less against the state’s total installation capacity of 18, 531 mw.
According to sources at the state power utility, TANGEDCO, the drastic fall in the wind power sector largely contributed to the lowering of power generation. Ten days ago on September 16, supply from wind farms in the state was 2618 mw,‘ said a Tirunelveli based TANGEDCO officer citing official data. While power generation by wind farms was above 2400 mw even till September 20, it had taken a dip to 1613 mw on September 21. Wind power registered a further fall to 653 mw on September 23 and was 645 mw on September 26,’ he said.
Maintenance shutdowns at the thermal power stations at Ennore, North Chennai and Thoothukudi too is said to have contributed to the reduction of power generation. Use of low calorific coal in the state-owned thermal power stations is believed to be another reason for thermal power plants not reaching their full generation capacity. On an average, the state-owned thermal power plants achieved 65.5 percent of the total installation capacity of 5620 mw in the thermal sector,’ said an engineer at the Tuticorin thermal power station (TTPS).
Power generation through hydropower stations in Tamil Nadu, however, is said to have increased in these ten days. According to official data, power generation by hydropower stations has doubled from 452 mw on September 16 to 916 mw on September 26. “This increase of power generation at hydro-electric power stations is due to the release of water for agriculture from the dams,” said a TANDEGCO official, who added that this is expected to go up in October and November when northeast monsoon sets in.
