IWTMA Unveils Roadmap to Boost India's Wind Turbine Exports and Global Competitiveness

Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association (IWTMA), has unveiled a report titled ‘Elevating India's Wind Turbine Exports for Global Markets.’  

India's wind turbine manufacturing sector has reached an inflection point. With installed manufacturing capacity of ~24 GW per annum, the domestic market— projected at around 10 GW of annual additions is already exporting more than 4-6 GW of wind turbine components.

While India installed a record 6.1 GW wind capacity in FY25-26, the nation exported more than 12000 crore worth of Wind Turbines and Components in FY25-26 which is about 50 percent higher than the 8200 crore worth of exports in FY24-25.

Against a global wind market poised to scale to ~212 GW of annual additions by 2030, exports must transition from an opportunity to the core growth engine of India's wind industry. IWTMA’s report on Elevating India’s Wind Turbine exports diagnoses the structural barriers limiting India's export ambition and prescribes a targeted, multi-dimensional roadmap to close them.

According to the report, India's position as a global wind energy manufacturing and export hub through a series of strategic interventions. It identifies the absence of export-linked manufacturing incentives as the most immediate challenge to India's export competitiveness, especially when compared with countries such as Denmark, Germany, China and the United States. To address this, the report recommends introducing an Export-Linked Wind Manufacturing Incentive (EL-WMI), establishing an Indian Wind Export Finance Facility (I-WEFF) through EXIM Bank or IREDA to provide long-tenor financing and buyer's credit, and creating an Export Credit Agency (ECA)-backed Payment Deferral Facility with sovereign guarantees to enable Indian manufacturers to compete effectively in global tenders. It also recommends reinstating the Interest Equalisation Scheme for the wind sector and classifying wind turbine exports as project exports to unlock guarantee and insurance benefits.

The report further stresses the need to optimise supply chains and deepen localisation. While assembly-level localisation has reached around 70 percent, system-level localisation remains at nearly 50 percent due to continued dependence on imported high-value components such as converters, generators and specialty castings. It recommends a phased local-content roadmap under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy's Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) framework, supported by manufacturing-linked incentives. Additional measures include duty rationalisation on specialty steel, development of supplier parks near major ports, OEM–SME partnerships, collateral-free credit for Tier-2 suppliers, diversification of rare-earth magnet sourcing and investment in magnet-light drivetrain technologies to reduce reliance on China-controlled supply chains.

To improve global bankability, the report highlights the need to bridge India's certification gap by establishing an IECRE-recognised certification body. It recommends that the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) create an independent certification division, pursue IECRE membership and receive government support for obtaining international certifications such as IEC, UL and DNV for Indian manufacturers. The report also proposes creating an ALMM Export Track to facilitate faster certification of turbines intended for international markets without affecting domestic approval processes.

Recognising the widening technology gap, the report calls for a dedicated Wind R&D Mission to accelerate the development of advanced 4–6 MW turbine platforms through collaborations with global technology leaders. Research priorities include longer blade aerodynamics, adaptive control systems, digital twins for predictive maintenance and automated manufacturing technologies. Increasing localisation levels to 80–85 percent through innovations in blade materials and gearbox and converter testing infrastructure could significantly reduce component costs and enhance long-term competitiveness.

The roadmap also recommends building a robust global service and after-sales infrastructure by establishing regional service hubs and decentralised spare-parts logistics networks in key export markets such as South Africa, Australia, the Philippines and Central Asia. Training local technicians to Global Wind Organisation (GWO) standards, deploying mobile maintenance teams and implementing SCADA-based remote monitoring supported by artificial intelligence-driven predictive maintenance are identified as essential capabilities for becoming a trusted full-lifecycle wind energy solutions provider.

To strengthen India's international presence, the report proposes a coordinated ‘Brand India Wind’ strategy focused on promoting manufacturing reliability, compliance with international standards and competitive total cost of ownership. The strategy would leverage global trade exhibitions, government trade missions, digital campaigns and partnerships with EPC contractors, utilities and development finance institutions, while regularly measuring global market perception through structured analytics and surveys.

Finally, the report emphasises the importance of strategic international partnerships for market expansion and technology collaboration. It encourages Indian Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to identify partners in priority export markets through trade missions, international exhibitions and bilateral platforms, while pursuing joint ventures, local manufacturing partnerships, service hubs and revenue-sharing arrangements. Greater use of government diplomacy and trade channels is recommended to support Indian companies in establishing a stronger global footprint.