Two TTPS units remain on standby.

Two units -the third and the fourth - of Tuticorin Thermal Power Station (TTPS) remain in standby mode, while the other three units are generating power.

A puncture in the boiler tube of the fourth unit that developed on Friday was fixed around 11 p.m. on Saturday, and the unit has been kept on standby. The third unit has also been kept on standby since Wednesday.

Wind power generation in the State marked a three-fold increase – a rare condition in this time of year – and it prompted higher authorities to accommodate more wind energy and reduce coal-based thermal power generation for the time being, reliable sources told The Hindu here on Sunday.

Since the State was keen on tapping non-conventional energy sources and marching towards green energy future, Load Despatch Centre issued a directive to this effect. Subsequently, power generation from the third and the fourth units of the TTPS had been suspended, sources said.

For the last five days, 2,200 MW of wind power was being generated from windmills in Aralvaimozhi, Muppandal, Shencottah and Kayathar areas, sources in Tirunelveli Circle of Non-Conventional Energy Source, TANGEDCO, said.

A week ago, wind power generation was only 1,100 MW to 1,200 MW in the circle. However, till 2 p.m. on Sunday, 2,000 MW of wind power was generated. During the peak season -June - wind power generation could reach 3,400 MW, the maximum average in the circle.

Similarly, the average solar power generation in the last one week had been above 1,000 MW in the circle, sources said.

“Around 1,500 kilolitres of demineralised water is required daily to generate power from all the five units of the TTPS, each with a production capacity of 210 MW. Owing to scarcity of demineralised water, the TTPS has to rely on NTPL plant. Around 750 kilolitres of demineralised water was sought from the plant, but the TTPS could get only 500-600 kilolitres every day. Hence, the TTPS started producing demineralised water to meet its demand,” sources said.

THE HINDU