Karnataka will have its first large size wind energy plant in private sector with Indowind Energy Limited (IEL) of Chennai setting up 9 MW Wind Farm Project at Chitradurga district at a cost of Rs 49.5 crores.

The wind energy project, which is being built on a turnkey basis for Bewind Power Private Limited, will become operational by the early 2008.

“The project will be set up over an area of more than 125 acres in Pallavanahalli village in Chitradurga District to harness the wind energy potential on commercial term,” K V Bala, Chairman, IEL told Deccan Herald.

The evacuation of power from the proposed wind farm would be through the nearest KPTCL substation located at Chitradurga itself at a distance of about 6 to 8 kms from the project site.

Sale agreement

The energy generated from this wind farm would be sold to BESCOM through a power purchase agreement.

Chitradurga belt is one of the best sites in the country providing potential to harness energy from wind power on commercial basis, said Bala. IEL, which is the first company in India in wind energy sector to get Carbon Cedits, proposes to enter the capital market on August 21 with IPO to raise resources to partly fund the Chitradurga wind energy plant.

IEL, which is one of the leading player in wind energy sector, is also contemplating to set up number of wind energy plants in Karnataka and Gujarat.

The IEL has been selling the power generated through wind energy to Tamil Nadu Electricity Board and various corporate clients in Karnataka and other states.