India ranks 5th in terms of installed capacity from wind energy projects globally which has reached to 18,522 mw as on January 31, 2013, says Press Information Bureau of the Union government. Wind energy is the fastest growing renewable energy technology for generating grid connected power among various renewable energy sources.    

The preliminary assessment along the coastline suggests that there could be potential to develop offshore wind energy along Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Maharashtra coasts. Setting up of offshore wind energy demonstration projects depends upon firming of the wind resource, oceanographic studies, environmental impact assessment and various clearances required for such projects as well as the presence of a policy framework.    

The Union government has constituted an Offshore Wind Energy Steering Committee under the chairmanship of Secretary, MNRE associating the stakeholder Ministries to steer the offshore wind energy development in the country in a directed and focused manner including modality for inter-agency coordination.    

The Steering committee in its meeting held in March, 2012, decided to constitute a sub-committee under the chairmanship of Chairman, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board to suggest draft policy guidelines for development of offshore wind energy activities in the country. The sub-committee has submitted its report to the Ministry.    

The development of offshore wind energy projects also depends upon firming of wind resource, oceanographic studies, environmental impact assessment, infrastructure to support fabrication, interconnection and evacuation of electricity from these systems, clearances required from various Ministries/stakeholders etc.    

The present wind power installed capacity in the country is 19,051 mw whereas the nuclear power installed capacity is 4,780 mw. As per information available in Central Electricity Agency’s website, nuclear power projects have generated 13.72 billion units of electricity during April-August, 2012, whereas wind power projects have generated 18.91 billion units of electricity during the corresponding period.    

Depending upon functionality of different type of power plants, the wind energy contribution in terms of generation during peak windy season in Tamil Nadu is around 30 per cent. On account of non-availability of state policies to promote wind power development, transportation problems and gusty nature of winds, as per information available with Ministry, there is no proposal for installation of wind power projects in Lakshadweep.