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The Indian Government has taken significant strides to bolster offshore wind power generation capacity in the country. Several crucial steps have been implemented, aimed at promoting and facilitating the development of offshore wind energy.
In October 2015, the Government initiated the ‘Offshore Wind Energy Policy,’ which established a comprehensive framework to encourage the growth of offshore wind energy projects in India. To further support developers interested in offshore wind studies and surveys, the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) issued ‘Guidelines for Offshore Wind Power Assessment, Studies, and Surveys’ in September 2018.
Meso-scale studies have identified potential offshore wind zones off the coasts of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu for the initial phase of development. Additionally, NIWE has installed LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) off the coast of Gujarat, collecting two years’ worth of wind data to aid in project planning. Geophysical, geotechnical, rapid EIA, and oceanographic studies have also been conducted for a site off the coast of Gujarat.
For offshore wind projects off the Tamil Nadu coast, geotechnical studies at three borehole locations and a rapid EIA study have been carried out. In July 2022, the Ministry issued a ‘Strategy Paper for Establishment of Offshore Wind Energy Projects,’ which outlines various development models.
In preparation for seabed leasing of initial 4 GW offshore wind capacity sites off the Tamil Nadu coast, draft tender documents and contractual agreements have been circulated for stakeholder feedback. The ‘Offshore Wind Energy Lease Rules’ have been prepared and legally vetted to regulate the allocation of offshore wind sea blocks to developers.
Efforts to strengthen transmission capacity have been made, with the Central Transmission Utility (CTU) completing planning for an initial 10 GW offshore transmission capacity (5 GW each off Gujarat and Tamil Nadu coasts).
In a move to incentivize offshore wind projects, they have been included in the list of activities eligible for trading carbon credits under bilateral/cooperative approaches as per the Paris Agreement’s Article 6.2 Mechanism.
To encourage early adoption of offshore wind power projects, the Government has waived Inter-State Transmission (ISTS) charges for projects commissioned on or before December 31, 2032, with graded ISTS charges thereafter. Additionally, a waiver of additional surcharges has been granted for electricity produced from offshore wind projects commissioned up to December 2032 and supplied to Open Access Consumers.
As of the present date, no offshore wind power capacity is under commissioning in the country. Nevertheless, the Government’s comprehensive efforts and favorable policies are set to lay a strong foundation for the growth of offshore wind energy in India, contributing significantly to the nation’s renewable energy goals and fostering environmental sustainability.
