PANAJI
In a move that could give a big boost to Goa's power supply profile, the Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) has announced plans to set up totally 100 megawatt wind energy plants across the State and has invited Expression of Interest (EoI) bids.
The wind energy projects are being proposed to be set up by private players who are already in the manufacturing of wind turbines and will be tied up to power purchase agreements with the State government.
Which means, the financial contours of this 100 MW wind energy proposal will be more or less like the one Goa had with the now defunct thermal power producing Reliance plant at Sancoale, knowledgeable sources in the power sector said.
"There will be zero investment by the GEDA but the State government will be a guaranteed buyer when the power is eventually produced," the source said.
GEDA hopes that with this proposal Goa could become a hub for wind energy production.
The projects will have to be 'vertical axis wind turbine' plants and interested parties -- manufacturers or developers of wind turbines -- have been invited to present their bids, according to the GEDA's EoI document.
The projects should be based on long term Power Purchase Agreements with the State government and the plant proposers will have to additionally put up the infrastructure to evacuate the power produced from the plant up to the nearest sub-station of the Goa Electricity Department (State grid).
The PPAs will be for a minimum of 30 years.
