D Banjop Mukhim
Shillong, June 25 (PTI) Taking cue from Tamil Nadu and
Karnataka, power-deficit Meghalaya is going all out to tap
green energy to bridge the widening demand-supply gap in the
state.
A preliminary investigation conducted by the Meghalaya
Non-Conventional and Rural Energy Development Agency indicated
that the state could generate about 3155 MW of electricity
through non-conventional sources of energy such as bio-mass,
solar and wind energy.
A GIS mapping, conducted by the Chennai-based Centre for
Wind Energy Technology (C-WET), an autonomous institution of
the Government of India, said the state is capable of tapping
between 40-90 MW of power from wind energy alone, MREDA
director John Rodborne said.
The government agency in collaboration with CWET is
presently conducting a feasibility study in the entire state
to install windmills in at least seven selected sites across
the state.
Three Wind Turbine Test Stations have been installed in
the southern slope of Meghalaya and four more will be added by
year end, he said.
These stations have been installed in Ladrymbai in
Jaintia Hills district, Laitdiengsai in East Khasi Hills
district and Mawiawet in West Khasi Hills district
respectively.
The other four will be set up in Skhentalang in Jaintia
Hills district, Laitkynsew and Mawkynrew in East Khasi Hills
district and Phodjaut in West Khasi Hills district, the
official said.
The preliminary information received from the installed
centres indicated that wind blowing up the cliffs in the
southern slopes of the state could be essentially tapped for
almost throughout the year.
The reason behind the idea of having wind-power project
is because it is one of the most environment friendly means to
generate electricity, Rodborne said.
The time taken to set up a wind power project is also
shorter as compared to the time taken to set up a conventional
thermal power plant.