India's Wind Energy Sector: Potential & Challenges

With 50.04 GW installed capacity, wind energy is central to India’s 500 GW RE by 2030 goal, yet a 2024 Nature study flagged Rajasthan’s Thar wind farms for recording the world’s highest bird mortality rates, highlighting sustainability concerns.

Wind Energy Sector in India: Status

Wind Power Capacity: India has the 4^th largest installed wind power capacity in the world.
Installed Capacity: As of April 2025, India has a total cumulative installed wind capacity of 50.04 GW, mostly from onshore projects.
- Gujarat has the highest installed wind power capacity in the country, followed by Tamil Nadu. These two states account for around half of India’s installed wind capacity.
Potential Capacity: National Institute of Wind Energy estimated wind power potential of about 695.5 GW at 120 meter and 1,164 GW at 150 meter above ground level in the country.
- Other major wind energy potential states include Karnataka, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, etc.
Target: As India pushes towards achieving 500 GW of non-fossil-based electric installed capacity by 2030, including an ambitious target of over 100 GW from wind.

Key Drivers of Wind Energy in India

High Potential: Wind Energy estimated wind power potential of about 695.5 GW at 120 meter and 1,164 GW at 150 meter above ground level in the country.
2030 Targets: Wind expected to contribute 140 GW towards India’s 500 GW non-fossil capacity goal.
Low Tariffs: Wind power auction tariffs fell to ₹2.77/unit in 2023, making it cost-competitive.
Policy Push: Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy and Renewable Purchase Obligation mandates boost large-scale adoption.
Offshore & Hydrogen: 4 GW offshore wind tender to aid green hydrogen.

Benefits of Wind Energy in India

Renewable Supply: Wind is inexhaustible and naturally replenishing, ensuring long-term sustainability. E.g., Denmark generates ~50% of its electricity from wind power.
Clean Energy: Wind power produces electricity without CO₂ or air pollutants, reducing environmental harm. E.g., U.S. wind energy avoided 189 million metric tons CO₂ in 2021.
Cost Effectiveness: Onshore wind is among the cheapest sources of electricity, with falling costs due to advancing technology.
Economic Growth: It supports manufacturing, installation, and maintenance employment. E.g., India’s wind sector provides thousands of jobs, especially in Tamil Nadu.
Rural Integration: Wind farms coexist with agriculture, providing extra income to farmers and electrifying remote areas.

Challenges of the Wind Energy Sector

Land Acquisition: Acquiring land for large wind farms is difficult due to legal, social, and ecological concerns.
Grid Integration & Transmission Infrastructure: India’s grid capacity is sometimes insufficient to accommodate large-scale, intermittent wind energy generation, leading to potential instability and transmission bottlenecks.
Seasonal and Fluctuating Winds: Wind speeds vary by season, making energy output less predictable.
Offshore Delays: Although India has a strong offshore wind potential, actual development has been slow due to a lack of infrastructure and high costs.
Ageing Infrastructure and Repowering: Many older wind turbines in India are inefficient and require repowering or refurbishment.

Government Initiatives for the Wind Sector

National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy (2018): Encourages combining wind and solar in one project to ensure continuous power supply and efficient land use.
Offshore Wind Policy (2015): Provides framework for developing offshore wind farms in Indian waters, including permissions and grid planning.
Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme: For implementation of Offshore Wind Energy Projects.
Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO): Mandates power distribution companies to source a certain percentage of electricity from renewable energy sources, including wind.

MNRE Guidelines on Wind Turbines

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has released draft amendment to the process for including wind turbine models in the Revised List of Models and Manufacturers (RLMM). This aligns with NITI Aayog’s 2024 roadmap, emphasising localisation of both hardware and control systems.
Data Localization: Mandates that all operational wind turbine data must be stored in India, with no real-time data sharing or control conducted from outside the country.
Control Sovereignty: It prohibits foreign entities from remotely accessing or controlling Indian wind farms operations.
Domestic R&D Requirements: Requires Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to establish research & development centers in India within six months of the amendment’s issuance.
Increased Localization Standards: OEMs must disclose the sourcing of key turbine components (blades, towers, gearboxes, generators) and demonstrate domestic manufacturing capabilities.

Way Forward

Boost Offshore Projects: Start with pilot offshore wind farms and scale up gradually.
Grid and Storage Upgrade: Invest in smart grids and energy storage (like batteries) to handle variable wind output.
Private Sector Investment: Create attractive policies and incentives to bring in more private players.
Repowering Old Turbines: Replace older, low-capacity wind turbines with modern, efficient ones to increase output from existing sites.
Hybrid Projects: Promote projects that combine solar and wind to ensure steady energy supply and efficient land use.

India’s wind energy sector, with vast untapped potential, can be a cornerstone of achieving the 2030 renewable energy targets through innovation, policy support, and investment. As PM Modi stated, “India has emerged as a leader in renewable energy, showing that development and sustainability can go hand in hand.”

Reference: The Hindu

UPSC Mains PYQs – Theme – Wind Energy in India

[UPSC 2022] Examine the potential of wind energy in India and explain the reasons for their limited spatial spread.

PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 351

Q. Wind energy is central to India’s transition towards net-zero by 2070. Critically assess its potential in strengthening energy security and advancing decarbonisation, while examining the structural challenges. (250 Words) (15 Marks)

Approach

Introduction: Write a brief introduction about wind energy in India BY mentioning the current data and facts.
Body: Write potential in strengthening energy security and advancing decarbonisation, structural challenges and way forward.
Conclusion: Emphasis on energy security and decarbonisation with the help of solar and wind energy.