Ennore Thermal Power Station in Chennai. File
| Photo Credit: K. Pichumani
The Tamil Nadu government on Friday (December 20, 2024) said the 660-MW Ennore Thermal Power Station (ETPS) expansion project would help ensure grid stability and increase power generation.
The State’s power demand is increasing by 10% every year, and to meet the increasing demand, projects like ETPS and Udangudi Super Critical Thermal Project have been planned, and work is underway. These projects would not impact the environment, the State Electricity department said in a statement.
It also said Tamil Nadu was a leading State in terms of green energy.
Green energy initiatives
With 11,000 MW of wind energy capacity, Tamil Nadu ranks second in the country, and in terms of solar energy capacity, the State ranks third with a capacity of 9,400 MW, the statement noted. The State government has formed the Tamil Nadu Green Energy Company Ltd. to oversee its green energy initiatives, it said.
The State has set a target of adding additional green energy capacity of 100 billion units by 2030. This includes wind and solar energy, pumped storage and battery energy storage systems, bio-mass and cogeneration projects, the statement added. It has set a target that 50% of its energy needs should be met by green energy by 2030.
Due to the infirm nature of green energy sources, there is a need for the State’s energy mix to have a certain portion of conventional energy sources, according to the Electricity department.
In the coming years, along with conventional energy, efforts would be taken to increase generation from green energy sources, which will help the State be self-sufficient and a leader in green energy, it noted.
A public hearing on the expansion of ETPS is underway in Ernavur.
Published – December 20, 2024 02:19 pm IST
