India offshore wind policy aims to hit 1 GW by 2020

India is planning to announce an offshore wind policy targeting 1 GW by 2020, taking inspiration from Europe’s success in power generation.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy will seek cabinet approval for the policy shortly, according to Joint Secretary Alok Srivastava.

By 2018, the cost of electricity generated by offshore windmills will be equal to that of on-shore projects in India, Asia’s second-biggest turbine market. Wind energy is comparatively cheaper in India.

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India has already installed 21 GW of wind power and is planning to expand further operations at sea. The poor quality of roads produces obstruction in bringing larger turbines.

India is consulting European Union offshore wind farm builders regarding the expertise, as most of the world’s offshore farms have been built in the North, Irish and Baltic Seas.

By January, the government plans to set up a new company to develop offshore projects. Development of the technology has made offshore wind projects viable now. State-owned generator NTPC (NTPC), Power Grid (PWGR) and a few others will constitute the business, starting with 100 MW demonstration projects along the coasts of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu states, Srivastava said.

There is also proposal for small, offshore farms for the Lakshwadeep and Andaman and Nicobar islands to reduce their fossil-fuel dependence, he said.

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