Tata Power Joins Hand with RWE to Explore Offshore Wind Projects’ Potential in India

In line with the Indian Government’s 30 GW offshore wind installations target by 2030, utility giant Tata Power has entered into a partnership with German offshore wind power specialist RWE to explore the potential for joint development of offshore wind projects in India.

Commenting about the collaboration, Dr. Praveer Sinha, CEO and Managing Director of Tata Power, said “RWE is our ideal partner to support Tata Power’s plans to enhance and grow offshore wind business based on its global expertise in running and operating offshore wind projects. In view of the Indian Government’s heightened focus on offshore wind farms to address the country’s expanding electricity demands, the collaboration becomes even more significant.”

In this regard, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Tata Power subsidiary Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd and RWE Renewables GmbH, Europe’s third-largest renewable energy company.

The move is significant as India is an unexplored and highly attractive market to develop opportunities for offshore wind as it has a large coastline of about 7,600 kilometres.

Explaining the market opportunities for offshore wind, Sven Utermöhlen, CEO Wind Offshore of RWE Renewables, commented “India has excellent wind resources, which can help to meet the country’s increasing energy demands. If clear regulations and an effective tender scheme are in place, we expect India’s offshore wind industry will gain real momentum. RWE wants to be part of this development.”

“With Tata Power, we have an outstanding and experienced partner at our side which is deeply rooted locally and shares our ambition to drive the growth of offshore wind in India. Combined with RWE’s 20 years’ track record in developing, constructing and operating offshore wind projects, we are well placed to supply green energy from offshore wind as competitively as possible for the Indian society,” Sven Utermöhlen added.

The Indian Government is in the process of conducting detailed technical studies and devising the regulatory framework to establish the first auctions for the offshore wind of the coast of Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.

Offshore wind has the potential to spur significant infrastructure investment in these states and to support local job creation.

To facilitate the establishment of an offshore wind market in India, the two companies will conduct technical and commercial site assessments.

In addition, these entities are looking into an evaluation of the Indian offshore wind supply chain and supporting infrastructures, such as ports and grid connections, to identify the local strengths as well as necessary development potential.

World’s number two in offshore wind power, RWE Group, has 17 operational offshore wind farms in five countries and has developed and constructed some of the world’s most advanced offshore wind farms to forge ahead with offshore wind in India.

By 2030, RWE intends to triple its global offshore wind capacity from currently 2.4 GW to 8 GW. It focuses on attractive markets for further growth i.e. Europe, North America, and the Asia-Pacific Region including India.

The company has energy trading presence in India since 2013 and is planning to staff the office with experienced offshore wind experts from India and Europe.

This set-up will help in transferring the knowledge from established offshore markets to India, to drive down costs and to both construct and operate offshore wind farms safely and at the highest industry standards, RWE said.

Meanwhile, Tata Power will contribute its deep understanding of the local electricity market and regulation, as well as stakeholder networks in the local and international supply chain, authorities and communities, to ensure effective project delivery.