News Release Details

CPCL, an IndianOil group company, forays into wind power
New Delhi   13-Jul-2007
In a significant development aimed at further boosting IndianOil Group’s forays into tapping alternative sources of energy, Chennai Petroleum Corporation L td. (CPCL), an IndianOil subsidiary, has recently commissioned a windmill power project of 17.6 MW capacity at Palghat pass near Pollachi. With this project, CPCL has earned the distinction of being the first PSU to have its own windmill for captive power consumption. Inaugurating the over Rs. 85 crore massive wind farm recently, Mr. Sarthak Behuria, Chairman, IndianOil group of companies, said, “This is a red-letter day in the history of IndianOil group of companies in our collective quest towards a greener world by offering sustainable and environment-friendly energy options. Wind power is another green and renewable energy option being explored by us since it is increasingly emerging as the most commercially viable renewable energy source with zero adverse impact on environment.” “In a step further, IndianOil is also exploring the possibility of setting up a 25 MW wind power project in Gujarat,” he added. On the occasion, Mr. KK Acharya, MD, CPCL, said, " This wind farm has an estimated annualised generation of 42.4 Million KwHr of electrical energy with 22 wind electrical generators. The energy produced thus would be wheeled to the grid and redeemed by CPCL in Manali, Chennai for its de-salination plant in the refinery. This will cater to approximately 80% of the power requirement of the desalination plant power load. For this purpose, we have already entered into an agreement with the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board.” It may be noted that with the technological developments across the world in the field of wind power, the cost of wind-generated electric power has dropped substantially. Globally, wind power generation has more than quadrupled between 1999 and 2005, with a CAGR (compounded annual growth rate) of 24% in the past five years and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 21% over the next five years. The wind power potential at present in India is estimated at 65,000 MW and potential locations are coastal areas in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat, Lakshwadeep, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Orissa, Maharashtra, etc.