Estimation of the Small Wind Turbine Potential in Tamil Nadu Using Geospatial Data

Tamil Nadu has areas with high wind speeds, ideal for harnessing wind energy. Some of this has been harnessed with large grid-scale wind farms with a total installed capacity of 9.6 GW. However, Small Wind Turbines (SWTs) have not found such uptake. The total installed capacity of SWTs is only about 250kW. SWTs are easy to install and operate and can be deployed at multiple locations, including those considered geographically unsuitable for more significant wind projects. SWTs are a Decentralised Renewable Energy Generation (DREG) option that can be added to the energy mix. This paper analyses Tamil Nadu's wind resource data and likely energy demand centres with the help of geospatial data to identify suitable locations to deploy SWTs. The computations are performed considering the wind resource data for lower hub heights (15-20m) ideal for SWTs and likely demand clusters where they could be applied. The overlapping areas are identified, and the potential is estimated using the specification of certified commercially available SWTs.