Enabling policy framework for aggressive wind power deployment in India
Student name: Ms Disha Agarwal
Guide: Dr V V N Kishore
Year of completion: 2012
Host Organisation: Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Mr Deepak Gupta
Abstract: The Government estimates of technically exploitable wind power potential stand starkly different from the
recently published reports. The national potential estimates by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)
are about 20 times the current official estimates at 80-m hub height [1]. Two other latest studies – one by experts
from Harvard University and Technical Research Centre of Finland [2] and the other by The Energy and
Resources Institute [3] – indicate much higher figures for the country. Various on-going state-level assessments
commissioned by Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation also indicate enormous potential. All this has stimulated
discussions and called for revival of official estimates.
This report shall derive its starting point from the findings of the above mentioned reports. Wind power potential
is huge and cannot be seen as a constraint. Wind power costs are already close to that of conventional sources.
The intent of this project shall be to compute the desired annual wind power capacity addition targets till 2020.
In order to assess the achievability of these targets, the factors that currently restrain or promote the growth of
the wind energy sector in India will be identified. Some of the important factors that will be dealt in detail in the
chapters of the report include:
1) Land allocation and acquisition issues in wind-rich states
2) Applicability of competitive bidding for wind projects
Firstly, this report will elicit the existing land procurement mode by state and wind power developers. The
prevailing policy support in five resource-rich states – Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh
and Gujarat will be examined. The recent developments around the existing allocation and acquisition
framework will be captured. Secondly, existing bidding mechanisms and criteria for conventional power projects,
that is, case I and case II bidding, as well as the bidding of solar projects under the National Solar Mission will
be studied to gauge the applicability of competitive bidding for procurement of wind power projects.
This report will subsequently draw upon the above to suggest the way forward and recommend possible options
that could be explored to enable aggressive wind power deployment in the country. While suggesting the way
forward, the impact of these solutions or options on various stakeholder communities will also be looked at.
Keywords: Renewable Energy, Wind Targets, Land Allocation, Power Tariff, Wind Deployment Models
