TRO launches wind energy project in Kuchchaveli

[TamilNet, Friday, 26 September 2003, 17:17 GMT]
The Tamils' Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) in Trincomalee district Thursday inaugurated a wind energy project in the Kuchchaveli village, 34 km north of Trincomalee town, which has not been supplied with electricity from the national grid even after the country gained political independence, sources said.

The LTTE's Trincomalee district political head, Mr.S.Thilak, inaugurated the supply to a house from the wind turbine generator; one of the seven such wind turbine generators under the wind energy project are to be installed in the Kuchchaveli area.

The project is being implemented with funding from the United Nation's Development Plan (UNDP) by the intermediary Technology Development Group (ITDG), the group's northeast manager, Mr.Jospeh Christopher, said.

The wind pattern of the northern coastal areas in Trincomalee district is suitable for the implementation of the wind energy project, said Mr. Christopher.

The ITDG has come forward to introduce the new technology in Trincomalee district. It has already trained three youths from the district in this technology and they have been deployed by the group to install wind turbine generators in Kuchchaveli and other areas, Mr. Christopher said

The first wind energy turbine generator has been installed in a civilian house in Kuchchaveli. The other six such wind turbine generators are to be installed in schools and houses, sources said. The electricity supplied by the wind turbine generator could be used to operate computer, television and radio, sources said.



(L-R) Kuchchaveli Divisional Secretary Mr.Jeyachandra, TRO Trincomalee branch director Mr.Kumarakuruparan and LTTE district political head Mr.Thilak


Addressing the event, Mr. Thilak said the introduction of the new technology to generate electricity would help several villages, which have not been supplied electricity from the national grid. Schools in Kuchchaveli could start computer classes if such wind energy facility is provided, he said.

Kuchchaveli Divisional Secretary, Mr.K.S.Jeyachchandra, said the wind energy project would assist people who have resettled in their lands to start self-employment.

The TRO's Trincomalee district key official Mr.C.Kumarakurubaran also spoke.

Windmill converts wind into useful energy, derived from the force of wind acting on oblique blades or sails that radiate from a shaft.

The turning shaft may be connected to machinery used to perform such work as milling grain, pumping water, or generating electricity. When the shaft is connected to a load, such as a pump, the device is typically called a windmill. When it is used to generate electricity, it is known as a wind turbine generator, TRO sources said.



Wind turbine generator installed in a house in Kuchchaveli




LTTE Trincomalee district political head Mr.Thilak launches the wind energy project in Kuchchaveli