Programmes/Technology

Wind Power Programme

The broad based Wind Power Programme of the Ministry aims to catalyze commercialization of grid interactive wind power.

WIND RESOURCE ASSESSMENT

The Wind Resource Assessment Programme which is being coordinated by the Centre for Wind Energy Technology (C-WET) has so far covered 31 States and Union Territories involving establishment of about 1244 wind monitoring and wind mapping stations. The cost of setting up a wind monitoring station is shared between Central and State Governments in ratio of 80:20 whereas it is 90:10 for the North Eastern Region and hilly States. 233 potential sites have been identified in the country.

A wind power project in Gujarat

POTENTIAL

The Potential for wind power generation for grid interaction has been estimated at about 48,500 MW taking sites having wind power density greater than 200 W/sq. m at 50 m hub-height with 1% land availability in potential areas for setting up wind farms @12 ha/MW.

TECHNOLOGY

Two types of wind turbines namely stall regulated and pitch regulated are being deployed in the country and abroad for grid-interactive power. The stall regulated wind turbines have fixed rotor blades whereas pitch regulated wind turbines have adjustable rotor blades that change the angle of attach depending upon wind speed. Both technologies have their own advantages and disadvantages. Wind turbines are also available with lattice, steel tubular and concrete tubular towers.

DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMME

An aggregate demonstration wind power capacity of 71 MW has been established at 33 locations in 9 states viz., Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Demonstration projects are implemented through the State Governments, State Nodal Agencies or State Electricity Boards. Demonstration projects will be taken up only in those states where commercial wind power projects have not yet been initiated/taken off.

DEPLOYMENT

A total capacity of 17352 MW has been established up to February, 2011, mainly in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Rajasthan. Wind electric generators of unit sizes between 225 kW and 2.1 MW have been deployed across the country. India now ranks 5th in the world after USA, Germany, China and Spain in grid connected wind power installations. A cumulative total of over 119 billions units of electricity have been fed to the State Electricity Grids up to January, 2011.

MANUFACTURING BASE OF WIND ELECTRIC GENERATORS

Wind Electric Generators are being manufactured in the country by a dozen manufacturers, through (i) joint ventures under licensed production (ii) subsidiaries of foreign companies, under licensed production and (iii) Indian companies with their own technology. An indigenization level up to 70% has been achieved in machines of unit sizes up to 500 kW. The import content is somewhat higher in higher capacity machines. The current annual production capacity of domestic wind turbines is about 3000 MW.

GUIDELINES FOR SETTING UP PROJECTS

The Ministry has been issuing guidelines for wind power development since July 1995 in order to bring about balanced growth of the sector. These guidelines relate to preparation of detailed project reports, micro-siting, selection of wind turbine equipment, operation & maintenance, performance evaluation, etc. A list of manufacturers of certified wind turbine machines is issued by C-WET on quarterly basis.

GUIDELINES FOR INSTALLATION OF PROTOTYPE WIND TURBINES

PROMOTIONAL POLICIES

A package of fiscal and financial incentives is available which includes concessions such as 80% accelerated depreciation, concessional custom duty on specified items, excise duty exemption, sales tax exemption, income tax exemption for 10 years, etc. In addition, State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs) are determining preferential tariffs. Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) provides loan for setting up wind power projects.

GENERATION BASED INCENTIVES (GBI) FOR WIND POWER PROJECTS

CENTRE FOR WIND ENERGY TECHNOLOGY (C-WET)

The Centre for Wind Energy Technology (C-WET), Chennai was established in Tamil Nadu in 1998 as an autonomous institution under the administrative control of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. C-WET main activities include resource assessment and testing & certification.

STATE-WISE DEMONSTRATION WIND POWER PROJECTS