Leitner Shriram Manufacturing, a joint venture between the Leitner Group of Italy and Shriram EPC for manufacture of wind turbine generators (WTGs), is gearing up for the european market with 3mw turbines.
The company is preparing a prototype with different designs and will get it tested in Europe. Based on results, which is likely to be out during March 2012, it will decide on launching the 3mw turbines commercially. Besides, in the domestic market, the firm is looking at testing 2mw capacity turbines for class I wind sites and 1.5mw turbines for class III sites, which have low wind speed. The components required for these turbines are being sourced from international and domestic markets. The testing is expected to be done by September and by April 2012, the company would decide on their introduction.
T Shivaraman, MD and CEO of Shriram EPC said, “The european market is moving towards 3mw turbines, while in India the scope is mainly for turbines that can be used at class III low wind sites. The company will decide on the commercial launch of the 3mw capacity turbines after testing more than one prototype in Europe.”
In India, the wind power sector has picked up this year after two years of lull. The government policy is strong and people are comfortable doing wind business. The sector would grow if the infrastructure bottlenecks are ironed out over a period of time.
There is a lot of untapped potential for wind energy. At present, the country has commissioned capacity in excess of 10,000mw of wind energy. Of this, nearly half the capacity is in Tamil Nadu. Other potential areas for wind power projects are Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.
In India, the class II sites with medium wind speed are occupied already with wind power projects. And there is scope mainly for turbines which can be used at the class III low wind sites.