Wind energy in India

Abstract

In India, grid connected wind power generation has gained a high level of attention and acceptability as compared to other renewable technologies available in the country. Wind energy installation in the country is around 1340 MW as of March 2001 and around 6.75 billion units of electricity have been fed to the state grids so far. India had undertaken one of the world's largest efforts for wind resource assessment, a program that covers 25 states comprising about 900 stations. The study has indicated a gross wind potential of around 45000 MW and the technical potential is currently estimated at 13000 MW. A notable feature of the Indian wind energy program has been the interest evinced by private investors/developers in setting up commercial wind power projects. A capacity of 1250 MW of commercial wind power projects has so far been installed, mainly in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. The largest installation of wind turbines in the country so far is in the Muppandal and Perungudi area near Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu with an aggregate installed capacity of about 500 MW. This represents one of the largest concentrations of wind farm capacity at any particular location. State-of-the-art technology is now available in India for manufacturing wind turbines of capacity up to 750 kW. Presently about 12 manufacturers are engaged in the production of wind electric generators. The annual production capacity of the domestic wind turbine industry is around 500 MW at present.