Chief Minister inaugurates 40 MW Thottiyar hydel project in Idukki

The State is aiming for an environment-friendly power sector in the State, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said. Inaugurating the 40 megawatts (MW) Thottiyar scheme at Lower Periyar in Idukki on Monday, Mr Vijayan said that the government hopes to make the State a fully renewable energy-based State by 2040.

The State is aiming for an environment-friendly power sector in the State, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said.

Inaugurating the 40 megawatts (MW) Thottiyar scheme at Lower Periyar in Idukki on Monday, Mr Vijayan said that the government hopes to make the State a fully renewable energy-based State by 2040.

“The per day power demand for the State is 4,500 to 5,000 MW, and in the last summer season, it increased to 5,700 MW per day,” said Mr Vijayan.

“ When the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government assumed power, the government set up 48.55 MW installed capacity hydel power projects excluding the Thottiyar project and 910 MW worth of solar power projects in the State. Considering the increasing power demand, the government aims to ensure the installed capacity is 10,000 MW by 2030,” he said.

Work on hydel projects were ongoing at Pallivasal,, Bhoothathankettu, Mankulam, Chinnar, Olikkal, Poovaramthode and at Chenkulam.

The Chief Minister said the State government plans to set up coal power stations outside Kerala. The Prime Minister has already ensured the availability of coal for the coal power plant, he said.

“The State is also encouraging wind power generation sector in the State. The present installed capacity of wind energy in the State is 71.275MW, and the expected wind power generation capacity is 2,600 MW “ said Mr Vijayan.