India adds record 5.4 GW of wind power in FY17

India added a record 5,400 MW of wind power capacity in the 2016-17 financial year against the targeted 4,000 MW, surpassing the achievement of 3,423 MW of capacity addition in the previous financial year.

Of this, 2,026 MW was added in March, beating the March 2016 record of 1,700 MW. With the addition of 5,400 MW, the country's wind power capacity stands at 31,177 MW.

The wind power capacity addition in 2016-17 was led by installation of a record 2,190 MW of generating capacity in Andhra Pradesh, followed by Gujarat 1,275 MW and Karnataka 882 MW. In addition Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Telangana and Kerala have reported 357 MW, 288 MW, 262 MW, 118 MW, 23 MW and 8 MW, respectively, of wind power capacity addition during 2016-17.

This is because of rush by wind power developers to complete projects so as to be able to avail themselves of the 'generation-based incentive' scheme that expired on 31 March. Industry sources are, however, confident that the government would bring back the incentive.

These figures, released by the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE), however, are tentative, according to the ministry.                                                                                 

During 2016-17, MNRE has taken various policy initiatives in the wind energy sector that includes introduction of bidding in wind energy sector, re-powering policy, draft wind-solar hybrid policy, new guidelines for development of wind power projects, etc.

Wind industry observers feel 2017-18 will be a good year too. In addition to the demand from the eight windy states, the centre has begun auctioning capacity, buying power to sell to states without wind potential, having already, auctioned 1,000 MW capacity.

India now has the fourth-highest wind capacity in the world after China (145 GW), US (74 GW) and Germany (44 GW). The government aims to increase capacity to 60,000 MW by 2022.