MOU signed for first ever offshore wind power project in India
Updated: Oct 01, 2014 12:24:08pm
New Delhi, Oct 1 (KNN) A memorandum of understanding has been signed today for the setting up of a joint venture company for undertaking the first demonstration offshore wind power project in the country along the coast of Gujarat.
“The MoU was signed by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE), and Consortium of partners consisting of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL), Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), Power Finance Corporation (PFC), Power Trading Corporation (PTC), and Gujarat Power Corporation Ltd (GPCL),” said an official release.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Minister of State for Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy, Piyush Goyal.
Speaking on the occasion, Goyal described it as a great opportunity in the development of renewable energy resources in the country. He pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message in the US was loud and clear that renewable energy is the way to go, it dovetails world’s concerns about climate change and it clearly enhances India’s energy security.
Further, considering the country’s 7600 km long coastal line, he stated that opportunities for scaling up are humongous. The Minister also suggested building of partnership with Defence, Coast guard and Shipping to ensure seamless and time bound approval process.
The Joint Venture Company will undertake a detailed feasibility study based on the inputs received from pre-feasibility studies and take necessary steps for implementation of the first offshore demonstration wind power project.
The first planned demonstration offshore wind power project along the Gujarat coast will have about 100 MW capacity. It has been proposed to provide subsidy for setting up of evacuation and transmission infrastructure of the offshore wind power to the main land including financial support for carrying out studies such as wind resource assessment, Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), oceanographic survey and Bathymetric studies.
The Ministry would also assist in obtaining clearances involved during the implementation of the project. This being a first demonstration offshore wind project in the country, it will certainly provide enough learning to move into this sector by taking up similar viable projects in future, enabling India to enter in the club of countries who are in the business of offshore wind power generation.
Wind power development onshore has reached a commercial stage in India and is fastest growing renewable energy option today.
India also has around 7600 KM of coastline which offers great potential for Off-shore wind power development. Having more than 22 GW installed onshore wind power capacity in the country; the Ministry has taken initiative towards offshore wind power development which includes announcement of Draft National Offshore Wind Energy Policy and preparation of Draft Cabinet note on National Offshore Wind Energy Policy which has been circulated for inter-ministerial comments.
Finalization of the proposed National Offshore Wind Energy Policy will provide a conducive environment for harnessing offshore wind energy including setting up of a demonstration offshore wind power project to show case technology and build investors’ confidence.
In early 90s, the Ministry had taken up onshore demonstration projects in various states. A total of 71 MW of demonstration projects in 7 states have leveraged a wind power capacity of around 22,000 MW with private sector investment. Therefore, Ministry decided to go for a demonstration off-shore wind power project to show-case the possibility and viability of off-shore wind power in the country. Some sites were identified along the Gujarat and Tamil Nadu coast which have good wind power potential for development of offshore projects. Since, GPCL has shown interest, it was decided to plan the first offshore wind power project along the coast of Gujarat.
However, world-wide offshore wind power projects aggregating to about 7.5 GW capacity have been installed (UK - 4.2 GW; Denmark - 1.2 GW; Belgium – 0.7 GW; Germany – 0.6 GW; China – 0.4 GW; the Netherlands – 0.2 GW and Sweden – 0.2 GW). (KNN/ES)
“The MoU was signed by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE), and Consortium of partners consisting of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL), Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), Power Finance Corporation (PFC), Power Trading Corporation (PTC), and Gujarat Power Corporation Ltd (GPCL),” said an official release.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Minister of State for Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy, Piyush Goyal.
Speaking on the occasion, Goyal described it as a great opportunity in the development of renewable energy resources in the country. He pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message in the US was loud and clear that renewable energy is the way to go, it dovetails world’s concerns about climate change and it clearly enhances India’s energy security.
Further, considering the country’s 7600 km long coastal line, he stated that opportunities for scaling up are humongous. The Minister also suggested building of partnership with Defence, Coast guard and Shipping to ensure seamless and time bound approval process.
The Joint Venture Company will undertake a detailed feasibility study based on the inputs received from pre-feasibility studies and take necessary steps for implementation of the first offshore demonstration wind power project.
The first planned demonstration offshore wind power project along the Gujarat coast will have about 100 MW capacity. It has been proposed to provide subsidy for setting up of evacuation and transmission infrastructure of the offshore wind power to the main land including financial support for carrying out studies such as wind resource assessment, Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), oceanographic survey and Bathymetric studies.
The Ministry would also assist in obtaining clearances involved during the implementation of the project. This being a first demonstration offshore wind project in the country, it will certainly provide enough learning to move into this sector by taking up similar viable projects in future, enabling India to enter in the club of countries who are in the business of offshore wind power generation.
Wind power development onshore has reached a commercial stage in India and is fastest growing renewable energy option today.
India also has around 7600 KM of coastline which offers great potential for Off-shore wind power development. Having more than 22 GW installed onshore wind power capacity in the country; the Ministry has taken initiative towards offshore wind power development which includes announcement of Draft National Offshore Wind Energy Policy and preparation of Draft Cabinet note on National Offshore Wind Energy Policy which has been circulated for inter-ministerial comments.
Finalization of the proposed National Offshore Wind Energy Policy will provide a conducive environment for harnessing offshore wind energy including setting up of a demonstration offshore wind power project to show case technology and build investors’ confidence.
In early 90s, the Ministry had taken up onshore demonstration projects in various states. A total of 71 MW of demonstration projects in 7 states have leveraged a wind power capacity of around 22,000 MW with private sector investment. Therefore, Ministry decided to go for a demonstration off-shore wind power project to show-case the possibility and viability of off-shore wind power in the country. Some sites were identified along the Gujarat and Tamil Nadu coast which have good wind power potential for development of offshore projects. Since, GPCL has shown interest, it was decided to plan the first offshore wind power project along the coast of Gujarat.
However, world-wide offshore wind power projects aggregating to about 7.5 GW capacity have been installed (UK - 4.2 GW; Denmark - 1.2 GW; Belgium – 0.7 GW; Germany – 0.6 GW; China – 0.4 GW; the Netherlands – 0.2 GW and Sweden – 0.2 GW). (KNN/ES)
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