On with the wind?

It is no secret that, even as India’s tryst with renewables had begun with wind energy (some experimental projects in Maharashtra and Gujarat after 1980), today it is playing a second fiddle to solar, which has taken a lead with a hard push by the government in the last ten years. Since 2017, solar has increased the gap in capacity installation and is the fulcrum of India’s renewable base today (about 120 GW of installed capacity as against 53 GW for wind). The segment, popularly perceived to be a coastal play (wind energy fraternity also cites not-so-supportive policies), is restricted to a clutch of states, as against major parts of India being potential good turfs for solar energy generation. So, does it mean that wind will further have a small role to play as India’s renewable base further expands in the coming years? The answer seems to be a definitive ‘no’ if the findings of the latest report by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) are to be believed. GWEC is the largest organisation representing the interests of wind energy stakeholders in as many as 80 countries. 

India’s wind energy capacity is expected to reach 107 GW by 2030, says the report. India is now the third largest wind energy manufacturing hub and is set to meet 10 per cent of global demand and create 1,54,000 new jobs (scaling annual installations to 15 GW), it adds. Its contribution to India’s renewable mix is expected to be 20 per cent. The report points to wind being a huge untapped area in the country – as against a potential of 1,164 GW, only 4.5 per cent has been utilised so far. Presenting a longer period outlook, the report has underlined that India’s wind capacity could reach 452 GW by 2050 with accelerated adoption. “Scaling India’s wind capacity to over 100 GW by 2030 can unlock economic growth, manufacturing expansion, and wider energy access,” said Ben Backwell, CEO of the Global Wind Energy Council, while presenting the report titled Wind at the Core: Driving India’s Green Ambitions and International Influence. 

At the report release, senior government officials and industry representatives were also present, commenting on the findings of the report. “Things remaining normal, we may cross 100 GW target ahead of time,” commented Girish Tanti, vice-chairman, Suzlon. Later, while speaking with the media on the sidelines, Santosh Kumar Sarangi, secretary, ministry of new & renewable energy, asserted that his ministry is committed to efficiently tap this least cost energy option. “We have a pipeline of 30 GW for wind energy in the next few years,” he said. “Even with a conservative approach, we will reach 85 GW by 2030. With little facilitation, we can easily reach 107 GW”. His ministry is consistently coordinating with states to deal with hurdles like land acquisition for wind projects, he added. However, he was quick to point out that in terms of annual capacity addition, the current fiscal could turn out to be the best year with 6-7 GW addition. The previous best has been 5.6 GW. On the occasion, Sarangi also responded to the much-debated issue of India making a foray in the offshore wind segment, saying a small beginning (with a 1GW project) is expected next year, but too much action in the coming years is unlikely, as it is quite expensive.  

Expanding their wings Another key issue for the specialists on the manufacturing side is to expand their wings globally. The report talks about India supplying 10 per cent of wind energy equipment to the world by 2030, which would mean a $20 billion opportunity on an annual basis. When it comes to critical components like blades, nacelles, or towers, Indian manufacturers are scaling up. “From 64 per cent of local content, we will be moving to 80 per cent in the next five years,” Tanti explained. “Indian wind energy stakeholders have managed to create a rich ecosystem”. The current Indian supply to the global wind energy component business, however, is a meagre  2-3 per cent, as fraternity members say. So the development of this sub-plot in the coming years will also be an equally interesting trend for observers to watch.