Non-Conventional Energy Sources: A Geo-Spatial Study of Site, Situation, Production and Economy of Wind Farms in Satara District

Abstract

Abstract Wind energy is a popular from the non-conventional energy sources in the World. In India states like Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Orissa, and Maharashtra are as regarded as superior areas with respect to this type energy. The installed capacity of wind in India till December 2010 was 13,056.37 MW, principally distributed throughout the Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, etc. In Maharashtra, there are 38 wind farms and the 3655 wind machines are installed with the 3431.86MW capacity of power generation up to September 2013. In Satara district, 17 wind sites and also other some sites are discovered. At present there are 1636 wind turbines are installed with its capacity of power generation is 1122.61MW and the production of wind energy of 2183745.15KWh average per annum in Satara district. The main objectives of the present paper are to assess the scope of non-conventional energy resources especially the power generation from wind and to analyze the trend and distribution of the wind mills and wind farms in Satara district. It is find out the amount of recovered from the power generation comes around 12 years without subsidy and around 8 years with subsidy. The total life span of wind turbines is 25 years. It is very much clean and does not cause any problem to the environment as well as to the survival on the surface of the earth. Therefore, it is inferred that the generation of power from wind is not only cheaper and permanent energy source but also a non-polluting, freely available source. It is helpful for the development of economically and socially in a region especially in rural development. With these consequences the income level will increase and it will further help in minimising the social disparities.