India advances offshore ambitions

The Indian government is already in talks with state authorities over two pilot projects totalling 100MW off the coasts of Tamil Nadu and Gujarat to kick-start its offshore wind programme, said Alok Srivastava, a joint secretary at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

The projects would be taken forward by joint venture companies including state-owned entities and others, with a total of 1GW by 2020 reported as India's wider target for the sector.

Srivastava told the Times of India: “We are expecting to finalise the best locations for setting up the offshore wind farms by December on the basis of the feasibility report being prepared and the Gujarat and Tamil Nadu coasts are preferred.

“The project will be carried out through close collaboration between the central and state governments."