Government plans to step up wind energy generation

The government has plans for rapid acceleration of wind energy generation, adding an ambitious 10,000 MW every year, or five times the total new capacity installed in the last fiscal, in a bid to cut dependence on costly energy imports, The Economic Times reported.

Wind energy, which had lost ground to solar projects in recent years, received a major leg up with the government restoring key tax incentives that had helped India emerge as one of the top countries in wind power generation in the world.

At a recent meeting with turbine makers and other stakeholders new and renewable energy minister Piyush Goyal suggested the addition of 10,000 MW of wind power installations annually. The ministry and wind turbine makers would jointly study the status of grid availability in six states with maximum wind velocity.

According to Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association (IWTMA) the proposed target was achievable as the country had the capacity to manufacture close to 9,500 MW of wind turbines which could be expanded over a short period.

According to Madhusudan Khemka, MD of Chennai-based Regen Powertech, wind turbine makers were capable of meeting proposed higher targets of the government.