ENERGY RESOURCES IN TAMIL NADU – SMRITI S 19R255

Tamil nadu is well-endowed with both exhaustible and renewable source of energy. The
state has an installed capacity of 31,894MW which includes 50% of renewable energy, 28%
from coal based power plants including shares from central generating stations, 5% from
nuclear power plants, 3% from gas power plants and 14% through Long term and Medium term
Open Access and Captive Power Plants (CPP).

Wind energy in Tamil Nadu

The state is the pioneer leader in wind power in India. Muppandal
wind farm loacated in Kanyakumari is India's largest operational
onshore wind farm. Tamil Nadu's wind power capacity is around 29% of
India's total. The total wind installed capacity in Tamil Nadu is 7633
MW.

Hydro energy in Tamil Nadu

Tamilnadu has both impoundment and pumped
storage hydro power plants installed.Kundah power house
is located in Nilgris ,is one of the biggest electricity scheme
in the state .Kadambarai hydro electric power plant is an
example of pumped storage hydroplant.The acces to this
power house is through a 1.3 Km tunnel into the mountain.
It stores energy by pumping water uphill to a reservoir at
higher elevation from a second reservoir at a lower
elevation. When the demand for electricity is low, a pumped
storage facility stores energy by pumping water from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir.

Solar energy in Tamil Nadu

The state has the 5th highest operating solar-power
capacity in India . The total operating capacity in Tamil Nadu is
1.8 GW. Kamuthi Solar Power Project is a photovoltaic power
station spread over an area of 2,500 acres
in Kamuthi, Ramanathapuram district in the state of Tamil Nadu,
India. The project was commissioned by Adani Power with a
generating capacity of 648 MW at a single location . It is
the world's 12th largest solar park based on capacity.
Thermal energy in Tamil Nadu
The state generates 15,012 MW of electricity which is
32% of the total electricity generated.Mettur thermal power
plant ,Ennore power station ,Neyveli lignite corporation ,
Tuticorin thermal power station are some of the examples of
thermal power plants in Tamil Nadu. Coal is transported by
sea through ship from Haldia, Paradeep, Vizag Port to
Tuticorin thermal power station and then distributed to Mettur
power station.

Nuclear energy in Tamil Nadu

Nuclear power contributes to 3% of electricity
generated.Kudankulam nuclear power station and madras
atomic power station are the examples of nuclear power plants
in Tamil Nadu. Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is the
largest nuclear power station in India, situated
in Koodankulam in the Tirunelveli district of the southern part
of Tamil Nadu. Madras atomic power station is India's first fully
indigenously constructed nuclear power station.

Biomass energy in Tamil Nadu

The estimated power generation potential from surplus biomass in Tamil Nadu is 487
MW. Currently, 111 MW of biomass energy is produced by 17 units located in various district.
There are many proposed biomass based cogen plants in the state.