Wind

The Wind power programin India was initiated towards the end of the Sixth Plan, in 1983-84. A market-oriented strategy was adopted from inception, which has led to the successful commercial development of the technology. The broad based National program includes wind resource assessment activities; research and development support; implementation of demonstration projects to create awareness and opening up of new sites; involvement of utilities and industry; development of infrastructure capability and capacity for manufacture, installation, operation and maintenance of wind electric generators; and policy support. The program aims at catalyzing commercialization of wind power generation in the country. The Wind Resources Assessment Program is being implemented through the State Nodal Agencies, Field Research Unit of Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM-FRU) and Center for Wind Energy Technology (C-WET).[read more=”Read more” less=”Read less”]Wind in India are influenced by the strong south-west summer monsoon, which starts in May-June, when cool, humid air moves towards the land and the weaker north-east winter monsoon, which starts in October, when cool, dry sir moves towards the ocean. During the period march to August, the winds are uniformly strong over the whole Indian Peninsula, except the eastern peninsular coast. Wind speeds during the period November to march are relatively weak, though higher winds are available during a part of the period on the Tamil Nadu coastline.

A notable feature of the Indian program has been the interest among private investors/developers in setting up of commercial wind power projects. The wind power generation capacity in India is 49,130 MW as per the official estimates in the Indian Wind Atlas (2010) by the Centre for Wind Energy Technology (C-WET). The potential is calculated with respect to 2 per cent land availability at windy locations and pertains to a 50 meter hub height level of the wind turbines. Presently large wind turbines with higher hub height in the range of 80-100 meter with large rotor diameters up to 120 m are available in the Indian market. Conceding technological advancement and higher wind speeds at higher hub heights, the potential of 49,130 MW at 50 meter level if extrapolated at 80 meter standard hub height, the projected wind potential using the same land availability will be in the order of 1,02,788 MW (not officially declared owing to lack of validation). As on March 31, 2015 a total of about 23439.26 MW of commercial projects have been established until.
The break-up of projects implemented in prominent wind potential states (as on March 31, 2012) is as given below

 

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