Tangedco Using GPS To Get Real Time Wind Energy Data

Tangedco has started measuring wind power generation real time with the help of GPS over the last few months. GPS system has been installed in all windmills across the state and discom has been able to measure the power generation from a windmill without going to the spot.

Earlier, the discom was using an assessor with equipment to record the power generation. This method had several lacunae in measuring, which were causing losses to the discom.

Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited or Tangedco has also set up smart meters in all high-tension consumers and this has prevented assessors from visiting the consumer and recording the consumption.

“After installing GPS in all windmills, we are able to get the bill from the wind power companies for selling wind power within 5 days of a new month, as against a delay of over a month earlier. There is also transparency as the bill is digital and no assessor is involved,” said a senior Tangedco official to financial daily.

Tamil Nadu is the first state to have used GPS in windmills. Other states like Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra are also likely to opt for this route shortly.

Tamil Nadu has a total wind power capacity of 8,322 MW. “With the new billing scheme, it is easy for us to know the wind power generation in a real time. We depend on forecast for power schedule, but with GPS we are able to know the wind generation real time,” said the official. The GPS scheme will also help the discom to know how many windmills are actually generating power during the wind season, as many are old and not generating at all.

In the coming months, the GPS system will be installed in solar, biomass and even in thermal plants there by ruling out malpractises in billing. This will help lower discom’s expenditure as well.

Meanwhile, the discom has also changed all digital meters with smart meters for high tension consumers. These include factories, IT offices and other companies, which consume large amount of power. “We have a software for the smart meters and through this the bills are sent to the consumers on the first day of a month.” said the official. The bills will be sent through SMS or email to the companies. “There are a total of 9,160 high tension consumers in the state. Through the smart meter, the billing will be uniform,” he said.