Private firms in Tamil Nadu have set up wind and solar power plants to sell electricity to the state utility and also for their own consumption. According to investors, new projects totaling 736 MW of solar capacity and 400 MW of wind capacity have been completed and are ready to begin generation.
However, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board is said to be delaying the grid connection of these newly built plants by not linking them to substations. Investors allege that an instruction issued in May asked engineers not to grant approvals for connecting the new wind and solar facilities.
As a result, power generation from the ready-to-commission plants has remained stalled for months, affecting those who invested in the projects. The issue was taken to the attention of senior state government officials.
Following the complaints, the Tamil Nadu government has directed the Electricity Board to submit a report with details of the affected projects. Investors also warned that such delays could discourage fresh investment in renewable energy in the state.
