Hydropower Major Forays Into Wind Power

Shimla: After testing the waters, the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVNL) which owns and operates India's largest hydropower project in Himachal Pradesh has now decided to venture into wind energy.

"The company has plans to invest 350 crore by 2012-13 for setting up a wind power project to generate 50 MW electricity," deputy general manager Vijay Verma told IANS here.

He said the company would commission the project in either Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh or Gujarat.

It is also planning to launch a 1 MW solar energy project near its maiden 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri hydropower project in Shimla district which started generation in 2004-05.

Its second mega hydropower project, the 412 MW Rampur hydroelectric project in upper Shimla, is likely to be commissioned by early 2013.

The company is also executing one hydro project in Nepal and two in Bhutan. It is also investing 750 crore for laying electricity transmission lines from Nepal to India.