Wind power saved an Indian state from a power crisis

A gust of wind saved the Indian state of Karnataka from one of the worst power shortages in forty years.

“The wind power generation increased from 110 MW to 1,067 MW and the supply situation has improved. This has enabled us to reverse our decision to impose power cuts in the state,” he told reporters. Apart from the surge in wind power, supply from private suppliers, including Jindal Power, and Udupi Power Corporation Ltd helped in mitigating the situation, Energy Minister D K Shivakumar said to The New Indian Express.

Dismissing charges that the crippling power situation was a result of “artificial scarcity”, the minister said, “I am not lying. There is utmost transparency as far as power is concerned, including in procurement from outside agencies, transmission and generation from state-owned power plants.”

He said with the improved power situation, there will not be any load-shedding during the Ganesha festival. “Things may change for the better or worse in the coming days.” Referring to BJP leader K S Eshwarappa’s charge that people would be forced to celebrate the Ganesha festival in the dark, he said, “With the improved power situation, he (Eshwarappa) can light more incense sticks during the festival.”

Reiterating that the state government is taking all steps to mitigate the power crisis, he disclosed that the department has instructed all hydel units to shut operations, following low water level in reservoirs.“I will tour the state in the coming days and hold interactions with the farmers to present the state of affairs as far as the power sector is concerned.

Shivakumar does not see any power crisis till December. However, the wind power production might go down after that. The government has already invited tenders and also negotiated with neighboring Tamil Nadu for supplying power.