TTD’s Green Power Generation to Increase With New Donated Windmill
TTD is expanding its green power generation with a new 800 KW wind turbine donated by a Mumbai-based company.
Tirupati:Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is set to increase its renewable energy production capacity with the installation of a new 800-KW wind turbine at Tirumala donated by a Mumbai-based company. The project is expected to save nearly ₹1.45 crore annually in power costs, according to TTD officials.
The temple body currently consumes around 600 lakh units of electricity every year. Of this, nearly 100 lakh units are generated through its existing windmills, while the remaining 500 lakh units are purchased from APSPDCL (AP Southern Power Distribution Company Limited). The new turbine is expected to generate an additional 16 lakh units annually, reducing the annual power purchase requirement to around 484 lakh units.
The devasthanam already operates nine wind turbine generators of different capacities at Tirumala. Six are 1.25 MW Suzlon turbines installed in 2003, two Enercon turbines commissioned the same year, and an 800 KW turbine installed by Vish Wind Infrastrukture LLP in 2023.
The latest proposal approved by the TTD trust board under chairman B.R. Naidu involves additional donation of another 800 KW wind turbine by Vish Wind Infrastrukture LLP, a Mumbai-based company, at an estimated project cost of `6 crore. The latest turbine will be installed near the GNC Nursery close to the 33/11 KV substation at Tirumala. It is expected to be commissioned within three months.
TTD will allot about 1.39 acres of land and permit construction of a 12-metre wide approach road for transporting the turbine components.
According to the board resolution, the proposed wind turbine would generate more electricity per acre than a solar power plant. While a one MW solar power project requires five to six acres of land to generate around 15 lakh units annually, the proposed wind turbine is expected to produce 16 lakh units a year on just 1.39 acres.
The electricity generated by the new turbine will be directly connected to TTD's existing 11 KV feeder for captive use, eliminating wheeling charges payable to APSPDCL.
As per the approved proposal, the donor will supply, install, commission, operate, and maintain the wind turbine free of cost throughout its 25-year life. The company will provide the electricity generated free of cost for captive utilisation.
TTD officials said the latest project is expected to save about ₹36.32 crore over its lifetime.
