FOWIND Publishes Offshore Wind Outlook for Gujarat and Tamil Nadu

The study presents an informed outlook for the amount of new offshore wind capacity that can be reliably incorporated into the two state grids, including the regional transmission and distributions networks, efficiently and in a planned manner over the next three 5 year plan periods, starting in 2018. 

As a responsible global actor, India made strong commitments under the UN Paris Climate Agreement and announced its ambitious renewable energy target in 2015. India planned on 175 GW from renewable energy generation by 2022. This target includes 60 GW from wind energy. 

India has the world's 4th largest onshore wind market with a total installed capacity of close to 33 GW. However, India does have an acute need for large-scale, clean and indigenous energy generation to fuel its rapidly growing economy. Offshore wind power could play a very important role in India due to the large wind resources available near centers of high-energy demand. Globally, offshore wind power is becoming increasingly cost-effective with installations over 16 GW. 

In line with the forward-thinking approach of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, FOWIND has developed an outlook for offshore wind development for the states of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. The work done under this report is based on today's policies, market and technology trends along with our experience with the FOWIND project since 2014. 

"While there are still many challenges ahead, we believe that a sustainable offshore wind industry in India is likely to come sooner rather than later, providing much needed clean, competitively priced power to fuel India's growth, creating jobs and whole new industries ", said Steve Sawyer, GWEC Secretary General. 

"To ensure offshore wind becomes a success also in India it is required that realistic targets are set. I hope our new FOWIND report is helpful in that matter and enables reliable planning but also motivates further build out of infrastructure to allow the integration of even more offshore wind energy " said Mathias Steck, Executive Vice President & Regional Manager Asia Pacific, DNV GL - Energy. 

"This study is first coordinated step in this direction, which will prove an important milestone for the future. Offshore wind will not only open the area of sustainable energy for India but will also provide a major boost for creation of local employment", said Balram Mehta, President (Wind & Asset Management) at ReNew Power. 

FOWIND has developed a preliminary roadmap for initiating a sustainable and commercially viable offshore wind industry, focusing on two coastal states out of a total of eight coastal states and the Union Territory of Goa. Further investigations could deliver a more detailed pan-India outlook for offshore wind developments over the longer term. 

The upcoming offshore wind feasibility assessments by FOWIND, would further add to the knowledge of businesses and government institutions as to what is required for developing a successful offshore wind industry.

 

 

For more information, please contact: 



Lauha Fried, Communications Director, GWEC [email protected] 

Sinead Murray, Regional Communications Manager, APAC, DNV GL - Energy [email protected]