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"market for large wind turbines will dominate" With the announcement of NEG – Micon & Vestas merger in Europe, the group has enhanced its position in the market. Jointly Vestas and NEG-Micon offer wind turbines in varied range. As of now, Vestas is offering wind turbines rated at 600 kW while NEG Micon recently set up the first 1.6 MW wind turbine. InWind spoke to Ramesh Kymal, Managing Director, NEG-Micon India Pvt Ltd. on their plans and shape of things to come InWind Chronicle: NEG Micon has been one of the pioneering wind turbine company. Recently you have commissioned a 1.65 MW wind turbine. Do you foresee a major shift in the Indian in the Indian market towards larger wind turbines? Ramesh Kymal: Yes I see a gradual shift in the Indian market towards higher capacity turbines, like our 1.65 MW as they are ideal for low and medium wind regimes found in the Indian Sub Continent. The average size of wind turbine installed in India during the year 1999 was 280 KW and has risen to 729 KW during the last year 2003 as per the BTM Survey 2004. InWIND Chronicle: What are your plans with regard to taking up manufacturing of these 1.65 MW wind turbines? Ramesh Kymal:Our state of art manufacturing facility in Chennai has got a capacity to manufacture 600 turbines in a single shift basis. India will be the export hub for all machines up to one MW capacity, If the numbers for 1.65 MW picks up it will be manufactured here in India. InWIND Chronicle:In view of the fact that larger wind turbines require higher investments, do you think larger wind turbine market will be limited to few buyers. What approaches can possibly be thought of for involving smaller investors in the large wind turbines? Ramesh KymalI feel that market for large wind turbines will dominate the Indian market in the coming years, as I see the investments in wind power will not be for tax benefits, but will be looked on stand alone basis. The unit cost of power would be competitive with that of conventional power. The life cycle cost of wind power is around Rs.1.10 based on the generation of the higher capacity turbines.