In the early 1980’s, the Department of Non-conventional Energy Sources (DNES) came into existence with the aim to reduce the dependence of primary energy sources like coal, oil etc in view of the Country’s energy security. The DNES became Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources (MNES) in the year 1992 and now from 2006, the Ministry was renamed as Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE).
The development of wind power in India began in the 1990s, and has significantly increased in the last few years. Although a relative newcomer to the wind industry compared with Denmark or the United States, The Indian wind energy sector has an installed capacity of 21 GW (as on March 2014). India has the fifth largest installed wind power capacity in the world. In 2009-10 India’s growth rate was highest among the other top four countries. Considering the growing need for energy, the Indian wind power scenario is currently in a dynamic phase of high growth.
The Wind Potential in India was first estimated by Centre for Wind Energy Technology (C-WET) at 50m hub-height i.e. 49 GW but according to the new survey at 80m hub height, the potential grows as much as 102 GW. However, Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory (LBNL) has stated the potential is over 300 to 400 GW.
The states with highest wind power concentration are Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
As of 31 March 2014 the installed capacity of wind power in India was 21136.3 MW, mainly spread across Tamil Nadu (7253 MW), Gujarat (3,093 MW), Maharashtra (2976 MW), Karnataka (2113 MW), Rajasthan (2355 MW), Madhya Pradesh (386 MW), Andhra Pradesh (435 MW), Kerala (35.1 MW), Orissa (2MW), West Bengal (1.1 MW) and other states (3.20 MW). Wind power accounts for 8.5% of India’s total installed power capacity, and it generates 1.6% of the country’s power.
According to GWEC, India could have 89 GW of installed wind capacity by 2020 up from 20GW at present, helping to fight a growing power shortage in the country.
Wind energy will witness abundant opportunities in the developing economies such as India, where the power supply situation and infrastructure development efforts provide a huge market for active investment.
(Numerical and Data Source : CEA, NIWE, MNRE,GWEC)