ACC commissions wind energy farm in Tamil Nadu to supplement power for cement plant

ACC Ltd has announced the successful commissioning its first wind energy farm in Udayathoor in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. This initiative is part of ACC''s efforts to adopt clean and green technologies to reduce dependence on conventional fossil fuel-based energy sources.

The wind power plant comprises six modern wind turbines of capacity 1.5 MW each made by Suzlon Energy Ltd. The project was executed in a record time of three months from start to finish. The wind farm is located near Kanyakumari, a region that experiences winds of enough speed to support wind energy installations.

Wind power generated here will be wheeled to the company''s Madukkarai cement plant in Coimbatore through a suitable arrangement with the state grid. Excess power not utilised by Madukkarai plant will be offered to the grid.

Sumit Banerjee, Managing Director, said, "The state of Tamil Nadu has been proactive in promoting and adopting renewable sources of energy. Our Madukkarai cement plant has already been contributing to conserving mineral resources by using low-grade limestone and fly ash. I am pleased to dedicate the Udayathoor wind farm to honour this nature-friendly spirit of the people and the government of Tamil Nadu. The Udayathoor wind project is a small but significant milestone in ACC''s journey towards sustainable development."

Electricity generated from wind power is eco-friendly green energy; it is renewable; it is non-polluting, relatively noise-free and leads to no direct emissions. Wind energy projects are eligible for the clean development mechanism (CDM) benefits under certain specific conditions.

(Also see: What is the Clean Development Mechanism?)