NTPC to set up venture with ABB

NEW DELHI, June 20 (UPI) -- India's state-run National Thermal Power Corp. is planning to set up a joint venture with ABB to enter into the wind energy sector.

The company has said it is in talks with the global equipment maker ABB and may come up with a joint venture company for wind. NTPC has plans to set up 1,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity over next 10 years.

The move is aimed at potentially transforming the thermal major into the country's largest green-power producer, an NTPC spokesman said.

It also plans to invest in the hydro sector but said its main thrust would be wind. It plans to build a wind energy capacity of 250 MW with the first project likely to be a 50 MW wind farm, the spokesman said.

ABB, one of the largest suppliers of internal components, control and grid connections for wind-generated power projects, has shown interest to tie up with NTPC.

ABB has so far delivered more than 15,000 wind turbines. It produces wind turbines including generators, converters, transformers, switchgear, low voltage products, motors and cables.

NTPC said it may enter onshore wind power projects in the first phase with the possibility of offshore wind farms later.