India plans first offshore wind power project

The Indian Government has signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a group of public and private companies to develop an offshore wind farm in the coast of Gujarat.

The MoU was signed by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE), and the consortium of partners consisting of:

• National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC),
• Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL),
• Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA),
• Power Finance Corporation (PFC),
• Power Trading Corporation (PTC), and
• Gujarat Power Corporation Ltd (GPCL).

The project will be the first offshore wind farm in India. The team of partners will form a Joint Venture Company (JVC) to carry out the project. The JVC will undertake detailed feasibility study based on the inputs received from pre-feasibility studies and necessary steps for implementation of the first offshore demonstration wind power project.

The first planned demonstration offshore wind power project along the Gujarat coast will be of about 100 MW capacity. It has been proposed to provide subsidy for setting up of evacuation and transmission infrastructure of the offshore wind power to the main land including financial support for carrying out studies such as wind resource assessment, Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), oceanographic survey and Bathymetric studies.

Finalization of the proposed National Offshore Wind Energy Policy will provide a conducive environment for harnessing offshore wind energy including setting up of a demonstration offshore wind power project to show case technology and build investors’ confidence.

Wind power development onshore has reached to commercial stage in India and is fastest growing renewable energy option today. India also has around 7600 KM of coastline which offers great potential for off-shore wind power development. Having more than 22 GW installed onshore wind power capacity in the country, the government has taken initiative towards offshore wind power development which includes announcement of Draft National Offshore Wind Energy Policy and preparation of Draft Cabinet note on National Offshore Wind Energy Policy which has been circulated for inter-ministerial comments.