NIOT proposes offshore wind farm locations

Scientists at the National Institute of Ocean Technology have identified Kanyakumari and Rameswaram off the Tamil Nadu coast as the two most suitable sites for setting up offshore wind projects. According to the institute’s estimates, 50 turbines of 3.4 MW can be set up at a distance of 5 km from the coastline in each of the locations to achieve a high plant load factor. Each turbine will cost about Rs 690 million. Tariffs of Rs 10.80 and Rs 9.60 per kWh for Rameswaram and Kanyakumari respectively with an internal rate of return of 14 per cent could make these projects commercially viable.