New Delhi (NVI): India, which has the fourth highest wind installed capacity in the world, has a further gross wind power potential of 302 GW at 100 meter above ground level with Gujarat topping the list of the country’s windy states followed by Maharashtra and Karnataka.
The country currently has the fourth highest wind installed capacity in the world with total installed capacity of 35.62 GW (as on 31st March 2019) and 62 billion units were generated from wind power during 2018-19, an official report says.
According to the 2018-19 annual report of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the latest assessment indicates gross wind power potential of 302 GW in the country at 100 meter above ground level. Most of this potential exists in seven windy States of the country — Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.
According to the report, Gujarat has a wind power potential of 84.43 GW followed by Karnataka with 55.86 GW and Maharashtra with 45.39 GW.
As on March 31 this year, the installed capacity of grid-interactive wind power in the country is 35.62 GW, with Tamil Nadu leading the list with 8968.905 MW of wind power. The state of Gujarat has 6073.07 MW of wind power installed capacity followed by Maharashtra with 4794.13 MW and Karnataka with 4694.9 MW.
The report said that electricity generated from wind in the last five years showed that during 2014-15, 33768 MU wind energy was generated while in 2015-16, 33029 MU, during the year 2016-17 power generated from wind was 46004 MU, in 2017-18 it was 52666 MU and in 2018-19 62036 MU energy has been generated.
The Government is promoting wind power projects in the entire country through private sector investment by providing various fiscal and financial incentives such as accelerated depreciation benefit, concessional custom duty exemption on certain components of wind electric generators. Besides, Generation Based Incentive (GBI) scheme was available for the wind projects commissioned by 31 March 2017.
On May 14 last year, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy issued National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy with an aim to provide a framework for promotion of large grid connected wind-solar PV hybrid system for optimal and efficient utilisation of wind and solar resources, transmission infrastructure and land.
India’s wind energy sector is led by indigenous wind power industry and has shown consistent progress.
The expansion of the wind industry has resulted in a strong ecosystem, project operation capabilities and manufacturing base of about 10,000 MW per annum.
As per estimates, India has a wind potential of more than 300 GW at a hub height of 100 metre, solar potential of ~750 GW assuming three percent wasteland is made available, small hydro potential of ~20 GW, and bio energy potential of 25 GW.
