NHPC plans 100 MW Madhya Pradesh wind farm

State-run National Hydroelectric Power Corp. (NHPC) of India said today it plans to build its first wind farm as part of its push into the renewable energy sector.

The 100-megawatt wind project at Kukroo in Madhya Pradesh is to be developed by a subsidiary of NHPC, Narmada Hydroelectric Development. NHPC owns 51 percent of the venture, while the rest is owned by the Madhya Pradesh government.

The cost of the project has not been established.      

NHPC is India's largest producer of hydroelectric power, but the company is exploring other renewable energy sources, including solar. NHPC is building a 1,000 MW thermal plant through Narmada Hydroelectric Development at Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh through NHDC.    

In addition, NHPC is developing a 3.75 MW tidal power project in West Bengal.

NHPC has an energy generation capacity of 5,175 MW in hydroelectric, with plans to add 5,322 MW of hydro. Last week, NHPC announced plans to build 2,100 MW of new hydroelectric power capacity in three new plants on the Chenab River in Indian-held Kashmir after the parliamentary elections.

According to NHPC, India realistically has 84,000 MW of hydro power potential.The country is the fifth-largest producer of hydro power in the world (see India launches disputed hydropower plant).