Accelerating Onshore Wind Capacity Additions in India to Achieve the 2030 target

12 September, New Delhi | The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) is today publishing Accelerating Onshore Wind Capacity Addition in India to Achieve the 2030 Target,  an analysis of India’s current auctions regime, industry perspectives on the policy recommendations to restore wind growth and socioeconomic opportunities that lay ahead. 

India is at the forefront of climate action as one of the top countries for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
and one which has announced its goal of achieving net-zero by 2070.

With over three decades of experience in harnessing wind energy technology for power generation, India has already achieved nearly 41 GW of installed onshore wind energy capacity, making it the fourth-largest market for installed wind capacity globally.

India has set a target of harnessing 140 GW (out of which 30 GW is offshore wind) installed wind energy capacity by 2030. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has estimated a 17.13% (140GW) share of wind energy in the likely installed capacity in 2029-2030 to ensure an optimal generation capacity mix (CEA 2020). However, recently annual wind capacity additions have declined, hindering India’s implementation to decarbonize the power sector, as well as other sectors such as heavy industry and transport.

As the share of renewable energy in the grid increases, increasing wind power to meet growing power demand and to meet the demand for ancillary services (flexibility, responsiveness and balancing) is critical to ensure the reliability of the overall grid system (GWEC and MEC+ 2021).

To meet India’s net-zero and renewable energy targets, and safeguard energy security and self-sufficiency in the course of its clean energy transition, the Government of India must revitalize the growth of wind power. This publication presents insights into India’s current auctions regime, industry perspectives on the policy recommendations to restore wind growth and socioeconomic opportunities that lay ahead.