South TN can be renewable energy hotspot: Official

CHENNAI: Southern Tamil Nadu region has the potential to become the renewable energy hub of the country, noted a top government official.

“TN is the leader in harnessing wind energy in the country. We have got a great opportunity in repowering of wind turbines. The government is keen on ecosystem development for deploying energy storage, offshore wind, and green hydrogen technologies. TN’s green hydrogen policy is expected to be unveiled in a few months,” said S Krishnan, additional chief secretary, Industries, Investment Promotion & Commerce Department, TN.

Delivering the valedictory address at the CII Green Power 2022 Conference held in Chennai on Wednesday, he said green hydrogen and offshore wind provide a unique opportunity for southern TN to become the renewable energy hub of the country.

CII hosted the 21st edition of ‘Green Power’ on November 22 and 23, 2022 with a theme ‘accelerating deployment of renewable energy for achieving net zero’.

In his special address, Dinesh Jagdale, joint secretary, Ministry of new and renewable energy, government of India said, “Renewable energy capacity addition is happening at an unprecedented pace in the country. India is the only G-20 country to feature in the top 10 rank of the recently released Climate Change Performance Index. MNRE has issued a draft tender for development of 4 GW of offshore wind projects off the coast of TN. Viability gap funding is also being explored for these offshore wind projects.”

Ramesh Kymal, chairman, CII Renewable Energy Council, said, “Over the last 20 years, Green Power Conference had a profound transformative effect on the Indian RE Policy.”