India’s wind energy sector is undergoing a phase of renewed momentum, charting the country’s path towards a reliable, affordable and clean energy future – thanks to significant technological leaps, strategic hybridisation and favourable policy support. As mentioned, one of the key factors driving this revival is the rapid technological advancement. The industry is moving beyond the 2-megawatt era, deploying smarter, larger turbines in the 3 MW to 4x MW segments and beyond. These turbines, equipped with longer blades and taller towers, capture energy more efficiently, resulting in significant boosting and lower variability in power output from low-wind sites as well. Furthermore, digital innovations such as AI and ML are optimising turbine performance for predictive maintenance and enabling real-time adjustment to wind conditions.
Additionally, these high-capacity turbines, experts feel, represent a 25 GW opportunity under the MNRE’s repowering scheme, revitalising prime wind corridors without requiring any new land in the process. While challenges in consolidating decentralised ownership still persist, the compelling economics of such repowering (replacing old turbines with new ones) ensure it remains a critical pillar of the sector’s growth strategy, thereby turning legacy sites into powerhouses of the future.
Hybrid systems and grid stability: The most significant factor that led to the momentum of wind energy is the shift from being a standalone power producer to being an integrated part of hybrid energy systems. The integration of wind with photovoltaic cells and/or storage options offers an effective solution to the intermittency factor often associated with renewables. The hybrid model of wind and solar systems leverages their complementary characteristics. While wind energy tends to peak during the evening or monsoon season, solar generation peaks during the daytime and during the summer season.
Such synergies and inter-dependencies have brought significant changes in project economics and managing the grid. Looking at recent solicitations, it has been found that projects based on hybrid or round-the-clock (RtC) power concepts have high demand, with more than 30 GW in the pipeline. They have synergies in optimising the utilisation of the transmission infrastructure and land, reducing investments and helping contain negative impacts on the environment. For power companies, it enables them to have more effective and dispatchable renewable energy.
State-level dynamics: There are distinct state-level strategies also at play. Gujarat continues to be a leading state in India’s renewable energy expansion, driven by its robust infrastructure and favourable government policies. Karnataka and Maharashtra are emerging as strong growth engines, consistently ranking in the top five for both new and cumulative capacity. Meanwhile, states like Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are also gaining momentum, contributing significantly to recent auction wins and diversification of the wind map beyond traditional coastal areas.
After a temporary phase of blunted growth, the wind sector is now sprinting forward fast, targeting a significant leap from 53 GW today to 107 GW by 2030. The current financial year (2025-26) is poised to be a landmark, with an expected record addition of about 6 GW – the highest annual installation in the country’s history.
The growth of the sector is further fuelled by a combination of proactive government policies and significant private investments. Mandates like specific wind ‘renewable purchase obligations’ (RPOs) create guaranteed demand, while frameworks such as the approved list of models and manufacturers (ALMM) for wind have led to a boom in domestic manufacturing. Simultaneously, the rise of hybrid tenders has restored developer confidence, attracting major investments from leading energy players.
Navigating the remaining headwinds: It is known that continuous efforts will be necessary to address ongoing obstacles pertaining to land acquisition, strengthening the transmission corridor system and ensuring the stability of the financial condition of distributing companies. Yet, the overarching narrative is one of solutions and progress. Each challenge is being met with targeted policy interventions, infrastructural investments under the ‘green energy corridors’ initiative and innovative financial instruments. The sector’s growing cost-competitiveness, now often on a par with traditional fossil fuels, provides a formidable economic argument that underpins all other efforts.
The evidence is clear: India’s wind energy sector is not just recovering; it is fundamentally repositioning itself. Driven by smarter technology, synergistic hybrid models and strong political will, it is transitioning from a variable alternative to a reliable mainstream power source. The nation is demonstrating that doubling its wind capacity is not a distant dream but an actionable plan already in motion.