ENA Sectors 2025-07-31 17:08:03 <p><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>New Delhi, July 31 (KNN)</strong> Indias total installed wind energy capacity has reached 51.67 GW as of June 30, 2025, Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">The sector has seen steady growth over the past three financial years, with 2,275.55 MW added in 2023 24, followed by 3,253.39 MW in 2024 25, and 1,637.02 MW installed in the April June quarter of FY2025 26.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Gujarat leads the country in wind power capacity with 13,816.68 MW installed, followed by Tamil Nadu (11,830.36 MW) and Karnataka (7,714.74 MW), according to official data shared by the minister.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Joshi reiterated the government's target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based power generation by 2030. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Of this, 340 GW is expected from ground-mounted solar and wind energy, with 110 GW integrated with intra-state transmission systems and 230 GW with inter-state transmission systems.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">To improve efficiency and extend the lifespan of aging infrastructure, the government has also introduced the National Repowering &amp; Life Extension Policy for Wind Power Projects on December 7, 2023. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">The policy aims to provide a structured framework for the repowering of old wind turbines.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Highlighting efforts to diversify wind energy sources, Joshi detailed steps taken toward developing offshore wind power projects. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">These include the notification of the Offshore Wind Energy Policy in October 2015, aimed at creating a comprehensive framework for offshore wind development.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Initial offshore wind zones have been identified off the coasts of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">To assess wind resources, the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) installed a LiDAR off Gujarats coast in 2017, followed by two years of wind data collection. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Additional geophysical, geotechnical, and oceanographic studies have been carried out to support 1 GW of offshore capacity near Gujarat. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Similar studies have been conducted off Tamil Nadus coast, with a geophysical study completed for a 500 MW site and four LiDARs deployed for resource assessment.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">To support transmission infrastructure, the Central Transmission Utility (CTU) has finalised plans for 10 GW of offshore capacity&mdash;5 GW each off the Gujarat and Tamil Nadu coasts. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Additionally, the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has floated the first tender for leasing seabed areas for the development of 4 GW of offshore wind projects under captive, bilateral, or open access arrangements.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">The minister also announced that the Union Cabinet has approved a Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme for offshore wind energy, with a total outlay of Rs 7,453 crore. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">This includes Rs 6,853 crore allocated for the installation and commissioning of 1 GW offshore wind capacity (500 MW each in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu), and Rs 600 crore earmarked for the upgradation of two ports to support logistical needs of the offshore wind sector.</span></p> <p><em><strong><span style="font-size:14px">(KNN Bureau)</span></strong></em></p> 43015 https://knnindia.co.in/news/newsdetails/sectors/indias-wind-energy-capacity-hits-5167-gw-led-by-gujarat-tamil-nadu-karnataka-pralhad-joshi 2025-07-31 17:08:03 knnindia.co.in