Punjab's wind energy scenario is likely to vivify with Suzlon Energy planning to set up wind farms aggregating 100 mw in the state. Through its subsidiary, Suzlon Gujarat Wind Park Ltd, the wind power major has planned to set up two wind farms of 50 mw each in Hoshiarpur and Mukatsar districts. The company recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Punjab Energy Development Agency, the nodal agency for renewable energy projects in the state.
Suzlon's plan will be a major boost to wind energy projects in Punjab given that the agrarian state does not feature among India's leading destinations for wind power projects. "Punjab currently has no installed capacity from wind power plants," a senior official of the ministry of new and renewable energy confirmed. Even in terms of gross wind potential, the state does not have a very high ranking, he added. In terms of new and renewable energy sources, the state has immense potential from biomass-based power plants.
Over the next nine months, Suzlon will undertake wind assessment studies for the proposed wind farms. The total investment is likely to be Rs 500-600 crore, going by industry standards.
In early 2007, Enercon (India), the Indian arm of German wind energy player Enercon, had also entered into an agreement with PEDA to set up wind power capacity. Pre-feasibility studies for a wind power project in Hoshiarpur district are under way, it is learnt.
India is estimated to have a gross wind power potential of 45,000 mw and a technical potential of 12,875 mw. As against this, the installed capacity as of end-September 2007 stood at 7,660 mw implying unrealised potential of 40 per cent. Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra account for nearly 70 per cent of total installed wind power capacity, with Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan being other important states.

— Venugopal Pillai