BHEL has been manufacturing wind turbine generators of 250 Kwh at its Ranipet unit in Tamil Nadu. As the sector advanced to higher Kwh facilities, demand for wind turbines of 250 Kwh fell and thus BHEL, the Ranipet unit stopped manufacturing wind turbine generators of 250 Kwh.
Taking into account the future potential of wind energy in India, BHEL plans to re-enter wind turbine manufacturing. Learning from the past, the company plans to produce from 1.5 MW to 2.0 MW class wind turbine generators, which are in demand now. To do this, it will collaborate with one of the main wind turbine companies, which will probably finish in a couple of months.
The Ranipet unit will use surplus manufacturing capacity to manufacture nozzles and towers for wind turbine generators as well. To start, the company will import wind turbine blades. Meanwhile, it plans to invest between 30 and 40 million rupees to install a turbine blade manufacturing unit in Ranipet, which will take a couple of years.
The company aims for a turnover of Rs 500 crore per wind turbine generator business year in a couple of years. It will not venture into the creation of wind farms, but will continue to focus on the manufacture, supply and assembly of wind turbine generators.
The Ranipet unit will become fully integrated windmill manufacturer in two years. Oflate, many PSU companies have drawn up plans to establish wind farms. The re-entry of BHEL into the manufacture of wind turbines is to capture a considerable portion of this business.