One of the leading manufacturers of wind turbines, Gamesa is contemplating foraying into the solar power industry in the country, which comes as a move to create a new modes of revenue and strike synergies between two renewable energy sources.
The company is already visible within the solar power set-up, which is limited to marketing inverters and mobile phone chargers for now. According to Ramesh Kymal, chairman and managing director, Gamesa India wants to take up engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) works, which would imply Gamesa’s helping hand in the setting up solar power plants.
Kymal said the company wanted to also explore the possibility of harnessing solar power at its wind farms. He, however, added that wind energy would remain the core business of the company. The company also wanted to popularise hybrid renewable energy solutions, primarily a combination of wind and solar.
Gamesa India has proposed to add 1,000 MW wind energy projects next year and nearly 90 per cent of it would be in the form of 2 MW facilities. Such smaller capacity projects would lead to more indigenisation, up to 80 per cent equipment would be sourced locally, and help encourage independent power producers rather than those who look at wind energy for tax benefits.
The company has launched its green turbine project, about which Kymal said, “Involving planting of trees, was initiated with an objective to reduce carbon footprints in manufacturing, erection, commissioning and operation/maintenance of wind turbines. Over one lakh trees have been planted in various farms, another 2 lakh would be planted next year.”
