Energetica India - June 2020

WIND POWER • Off-shore wind: With a long coastline, India’s immense off- shore wind potential is unexploited. National Offshore Wind Policy notified in October 2015 aims to install 5 GW of offshore capacity by 2022, and a further 30-GW by 2030. So far, only a few preliminary actions are taken and the first project will - come into existence only after another one to two years. The high-speed, steadiness, and availability throughout the year make offshore wind a cherished avenue. Gujarat and Tamil Nadu have high potential. As per MNRE, the private sector has shown a positive response. Groundworks are being laid for the segment’s growth, which presently remains constricted by high tariffs. Importance of wind energy and course correction Wind energy has one of the lowest life-cycle greenhouse gas emission intensity among all the electricity generation meth- ods, and one-third that of solarPV power due tolower land and water footprint. With higher capacity utilization factor, wind uti- lizes the evacuation infrastructure almost twice as efficiently. The inertial property makes the ramp-up and ramp-down rates for wind smoother. Small policy changes can give a fillip to the presently laggard sector, which has a potential of 695-GW. Procurement con- tracts must be strengthened to reduce off-take risk. Develop- ment of alternate market must be supported through open-ac- cess. In February-March 2020, the government has decided to set up a Renewable Energy Promotion and Facilitation Board and freeing up competitive bids from arbitrary tariff ceilings. The growth of wind going forward hinges very closely on how policies shape up and how effectively risks are mitigated. 48 energetica INDIA- June_2020