“Ministry envisions India as a global leader in wind energy” says Dr. Farooq Abdullah

(Photo Caption: Mr. Madhusudan Khemka, Vice Chairman, IWTMA and Mr. Ramesh Kymal, Chairman, IWTMA join the Hon'ble Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah, MNRE as he lights the lamp at the inaugural of Wind Power India 2012.)

The country’s most prestigious conference on Wind Energy, ‘Wind Power India 2012’, an International Conference and Exhibition kick started with its second big edition today at the Chennai Trade Centre. The event was formally inaugurated by Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Government of India. The 3-day event was organized by Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association (IWTMA), General Wind Energy Council (GWEC), and World Institute of Sustainable Energy (WISE).

The International conference witnessed the convergence of stakeholders from across the Wind Energy sector, Government authorities, policy makers and exhibitors from across the world providing a great forum for deliberations on the roadblocks hindering the development of renewable energy and seeking the government’s support to address the policy shortfalls impeding wind energy to grow to its full potential.

Wind energy has been the fastest renewable energy sector in the country. With a cumulative installed capacity of over 18000 MW wind power currently accounts for almost 70% of the total installed capacity in the renewable energy sector. About 3200 MW of new wind power capacity has been added during the last financial year (2011-2012) alone which is the highest in a year, so far. The 12^th five year plan proposes and envisages around 15000 MW of grid interactive renewable power capacity additions from wind energy alone.

In his welcome address, Mr. Ramesh Kymal, Chairman, IWTMA said, “India has experienced significant growth in the renewable energy sector. It is pertinent to know that of the total 25,000 GW of present installed capacity, wind power has contributed 70% in positioning India as a global leader in the renewable energy sector. The ever increasing demand for electricity in India has been the foremost driver for growth of wind energy in the country”.

Mr. G.M Pillai, Founder Director General, WISE, in his speech said that as per the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), 15% of all energy is to come from renewable energy by the year 2020. This translates to about 8000 MW of power per year which wind energy is capable of achieving.  The Indian wind energy sector is facing immense challenges due to the withdrawal of Accelerated Depreciation (AD) and Generation Based Incentive (GBI), and this needs to be implemented on an urgent basis.

He further said that, “Wind Power India 2012 is a sequel to Wind India which was initiated by WISE in 2006. WPI conference aims at focusing on the development of the sector by addressing issues on government policies and the existing regulatory framework governing the industry, alongside emphasizing the need for technological advancements. In India, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala are the three states where the tariff paid to wind generation is lesser than that paid to coal based thermal power generation”.

Expressing his gratification on the international conference, Mr. Steve Sawyer, Secretary General, GWEC said, “The Indian power sector is dogged by major challenges in terms of regulatory and tax incentives. Government’s support is ‘the need of the hour’ for energy security to increase job opportunities, stabilize electricity costs, reduce pollution and fight climate change”.

V.Subramanian, Former Secretary, MNRE, and Chairperson, Organizing Committee, Wind Power India (WPI) 2012, emphasized and said, “The Wind sector has been given a step-motherly treatment. It needs a more mature and commercially viable investment opportunity to grow. The development of any sector relies on a robust policy framework and government intervention. The wind energy sector presents huge untapped potential which could be harnessed with government support”.

On a reassuring note Mr. Madhusudan Khemka, Vice Chairman, IWTMA added, “The wind energy industry is facing huge challenges with immense opportunities and this is the best occasion to deliberate on the solutions to sustain the growth of the sector. In spite of low capital costs, feed-in tariff, challenges with regard to grid, lowest returns on revenue from projects and exorbitant interest rates. We have been able to deliver commercially viable projects being a vibrant economy of dynamic entrepreneurs. This trajectory of growth would continue with government’s moral and financial support. As envisaged in the 12^th five year plan, achieving 15,000 MW of power generation with government’s intervention, the sector is capable of achieving more than 25000 MW of power,” he concluded.

Steering the industry bodies towards sustainability of the sector, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Minister for New and Renewable Energy Government of India, urged the collaborative participation with the government to develop this most dependable source of renewable energy. “We must open our doors to the world for exchange of technology know-how and we all owe to each other in saving the mother Earth from on-going global warming.”