Date : 09/09/2023

Relevance: GS Paper 3 - Economy- Renewable Energy

Keywords: National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy (2018), LiDAR technology, National Offshore Wind Energy Policy (2015)

Context-

• India has recently introduced a comprehensive strategy for expanding offshore wind energy. This strategy involved a detailed assessment of factors like wind resources using LiDAR technology and bathymetry. As a result of this assessment, eight potential offshore wind energy zones were identified off the coasts of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
• Presently, India has ambitious plans to auction leases for offshore sites, aiming to achieve a total capacity of 37 gigawatts over the next seven years, with a target set for fiscal year 2030 (FY 2030)

India’s Thrust on Renewable Power

• Needless to mention, in the last decade the Government of India has really done a commendable job in promoting renewable energy, and precisely because of that India is very well placed on the world map of renewable power by occupying 4th position (163 GW) after China (1161 GW), US (352 GW) and Brazil (175 GW).
• As far as wind power is concerned India (42 GW) again stands in 4th position across the globe after China (365 GW), the US (140 GW), and Germany (66 GW).

Offshore Wind Power Opportunity in India

• India has a coastline of about 7600 km surrounded by water (Indian peninsula) providing immense opportunity for investment in offshore wind power generation.
• According to the National Institute of Wind Energy estimate based on realistic and practical assumptions total wind power potential could be over 300 GW based on a hub height of 100 meters. This provides a huge opportunity for investment in offshore wind capacity.

Advantages of offshore wind energy projects

• Abundant Area: The availability of vast expanses of space is a primary motivator for turning to offshore projects. This shift is necessitated by the limited suitable land sites for wind turbines.
• Higher Wind Speeds: Wind speeds are significantly greater at sea compared to onshore locations. Even small increases in wind speed result in substantial boosts in energy production. For instance, a turbine in a 25 Km/h wind can generate twice as much energy as one in a 20 Km/h wind on onshore infrastructure. Additionally, sea winds are less turbulent, leading to lower mechanical fatigue loads and extended turbine lifetimes.
• Wind Consistency: Wind speed is more consistent at sea than on land, where low winds are prevalent most of the time. At sea, prolonged periods of complete calm are extremely rare and short-lived.
• Reduced Transmission Losses: Offshore wind farms are typically situated closer to cities and load centers, minimizing transmission losses.
• Land Disputes: The availability of ample space at sea reduces land-related disputes, allowing for the construction of more windmills.
• Larger Windmills: Offshore windmills can be larger and taller than their onshore counterparts, leading to increased energy capture. Moreover, their location far from the coastline makes them less intrusive, enabling the establishment of larger farms per square kilometer.
• Environmental Benefits: Offshore wind farms have a comparatively lower environmental impact. Like other renewable energy sources, they do not require water consumption for operation and do not release environmental pollutants or greenhouse gases during their operation.

Challenges to Offshore Wind Projects

• High capital cost: The foundation and installation cost for offshore projects is much higher compared to that of onshore. Furthermore, the cost in India might be on the higher side because of various factors like the absence of installation and support vessels, lack of sub-structure manufacturers, lack of trained manpower, etc.
• Lack of data: The data required for the calculation of offshore wind potential and identification of suitable sites are not available. Resource map data is crucial because there are particular zones like the shipping lanes, dredging regions, oil exploration areas, exclusive fishing zones, areas with underlying submarine communication cables, and dumping grounds for ammunition, explosives, and other hazardous materials that have to be considered before finalizing the exact potential areas.
• Regulatory framework: Currently there is no dedicated regulatory framework available for offshore wind energy on the lines of Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) for the promotion of solar energy.
• High energy tariff: Offshore windmills are more expensive than onshore ones, power generated from the former could cost around Rs 12 per unit, compared to around Rs 2.43 for onshore wind power, the cheapest source of renewable energy in India today.
• Manufacturing of Equipment: Offshore wind farms typically have larger turbines and longer windmill blades. But most firms in India don’t yet make such high-capacity machines, so components will have to be imported. This might affect investor interest.

Initiatives taken by the Government

• National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy (2018): The primary goal of the National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy, 2018, is to establish a structured framework for encouraging the deployment of extensive grid-connected wind-solar PV hybrid systems. This aims to achieve the efficient and optimal utilization of both wind and solar resources, transmission infrastructure, and available land.
• National Offshore Wind Energy Policy: In October 2015, the National Offshore Wind Energy Policy was officially introduced. Its core objective is the development of offshore wind energy within the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which encompasses the extensive 7,600-kilometer-long Indian coastline.
• Government funds: In the offshore wind energy sector, the Government of India has already allocated Rs. 10,000 crores as the initial seed money from the clean energy fund, which is basically collected from coal cess.

Conclusion

India has several mechanisms at its disposal to promote and advance offshore wind power generation. These include implementing a Renewable Purchase Obligation to encourage clean energy consumption, addressing tax exemptions to support wind power projects, adopting Feed-in Tariff regulations to incentivize offshore wind, and establishing a "deemed generation provision" to safeguard against curtailment concerns. By leveraging these strategies, India can foster the growth of its offshore wind energy sector and contribute to a cleaner and sustainable energy future.

Source- The Indian Express/ Down To Earth