SEZ for renewable energy devices in Tamil Nadu

V HEMAMALINI & BINDU D MENON

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2006 03:02:01 AM]

CHENNAI: It will be another feather in the cap for Tamil Nadu if it
succeeds in its efforts to leverage on its numero uno position in the
generation of power from renewable energy sources.

India’s first-of-its kind special economic zone (SEZ) for manufacturing
and testing of non-conventional energy equipment is all set to come up
near Chennai. The project is expected to attract an investment of Rs
3,000 to Rs 4,000 crore over the next four years and will be spread over
1,000 acres.

“We hope to sign a memorandum of understanding by the month-end for
establishing the country’s first exclusive SEZ to manufacture
non-conventional energy equipment,” Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency
(TEDA) chairman and managing director A Elangovan told ET here on Tuesday.

The state already has the distinction of being a leader in wind energy.
It’s installed capacity from renewable source, including hydro-power, as
on March 31, 2006, stood at 3,201 MW, accounting for 40% of the total
installed capacity in the country. This accounted for 22% of the TNEB’s
total grid capacity much above the all-India average of 5.5%.

Also, the boiler town, Trichy is emerging as a capital for the
manufacture of power equipment and fabrication works. Banking on these
strengths, TEDA has taken an initiative to act a nodal agency in
promoting the project.

The SEZ is expected to see the participation of as many as 50
stakeholders, mostly from overseas. The US will be the dominant player,
parking around Rs 900 crore in the first phase in the SEZ.

The SEZ will house industrial R&D units, laboratories such as CPRI,
testing units, educational and vocational training centres, besides an
area for vendors, he added.

Mr Elangovan said several universities will also be linked in the SEZ
project for technical tie-ups and players from Germany and West Bengal
will be present in the SEZ.

“The stakeholder from West Bengal produces energy transforming rice husk
into solar photovoltaic cells,” he added.
“With distributive energy set to play a major role in the future, we are
looking at matching local load requirements with locally available
energy resources,” he noted.

Apart from companies abroad, the project has also evinced interest from
state governments that are power-deficient. With Tamil Nadu being
surplus in power, this SEZ will provide a comprehensive infrastructure
for power at affordable costs, he added.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2191845.cms