Goa requires definitive wind study
FRANKY GRACIAS
PANJIM, DEC 4
Harnessing wind energy could set in winds of change in small ways in the area of alternate power generation, a domain into which the State has to seriously look at keeping the future power needs in mind. However, in the absence of a definitive wind study, it is very difficult to ascertain how the State could benefit from this valuable untapped resource.
Associate Prof at the Porvorim-based National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research Extension Centre Goa Alan Rocha says optimistically, “The State could look at wind energy, along with solar power, to weed out the electricity shortage during peak hours. This could be considered as an option.”
Rocha, who has a keen interest in wind study, mentions Goa could look at setting up of wind turbines in the entire coastal regulation zone (CRZ) areas where concrete development was not permitted. Setting up of these turbines will definitely help in generating power in the coastal areas where tourism flourishes and guard the sanctity of CRZ areas, he opines.
However, he adds, what’s required is a concrete and definitive study to know what kind of turbines could be set up. Wherever wind turbines are to be set up, a wind mast having a data logger and anemometer has to be erected to measure wind speed for one year to see the feasibility of their operations, he mentions.
Surprisingly, the Chennai-based Centre for Wind Energy Technology (CWET), an authority for generating exact figures, has no conclusive studies for Goa. Rocha says CWET has set-up just two wind masts – at Betul and Pernem – which are insufficient for measuring wind speeds. As such I rate their wind study for Goa as arbitrary, he adds.
Member Secretary Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) Michael D’Souza, however, begs to differ and goes by the CWET study. In fact, he informs, three more sites are being identified to measure wind speed and see whether the same were good.
According to the GEDA, presently a 50-metre a mast is being installed at Shirgao to measure wind speeds at different heights. Says Gaurish Khautankar of GEDA wind study is an ongoing process, but for now I can say winds in the State are favourable for operating small turbines of kilowatt level.
Rocha claims while CWET wind speeds for Goa show average of 3.5 to 4.3 metres/second by using just two masts, NASA data availed by using 200 satellites gives favourable average monthly wind speeds at a height of 50 metres. He says NASA data shows the wind speeds are 20 per cent higher during the monsoon, which is good for tapping energy.
For example, NASA data (see chart) reveals the average monthly wind speeds for Panjim measured at a height of 50 metres and at different timings stand at an average of 5 m/s. The monsoon figures especially in June, July and August average between 6 m/s and 7 m/s.
He adds it is surprising NASA is now allowing people all over the world to access these figures on its website eosweb.larc.nasa.gov. The authorities and other stakeholders have to sit together and introspect whether they were wasting a valuable resource. I am optimistic wind energy could be used in small measures to help the State tide over its power deficit in the peak hours, he states.
Rocha says compared to solar power setting up of a wind turbine is one-third the cost. Goa has a beautiful coastline and it could even look at setting up off-shore wind turbines like in Denmark, he mentions and adds, “Even NIO scientists may be pulled in to carry out proper studies off-shore.”
