Q. Examine the potential of wind energy in India and explain the reasons for their limited spatial spread. [150 Words, 10 Marks] 2022

Answer:

Introduction:

India is the world’s fourth largest country in terms of total wind installations after China, the USA and Germany.  India has a manufacturing base of about 10 GW per annum. The total installed wind capacity in India is 40.8 GW as of June 30, 2022. States like Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Maharashtra were the leading markets for wind, accounting for 72.3% of the cumulative capacity.

wind power installation

Reasons for the limited spatial spread of wind energy:

Land availability: Wind turbines require large tracts of land. Acquiring land becomes challenging and time-consuming due to issues related to land ownership, local regulations, and environmental concerns.

Transmission infrastructure: Wind energy projects require adequate transmission infrastructure to transport the electricity from the project site to the grid. The existing transmission infrastructure in India is often inadequate, leading to grid congestion and curtailment of wind power generation. E.g The nation is on a clear and achievable path towards its renewable energy target of 275 gigawatts (GW) by 2026/27.

Financing: The high capital costs associated with wind energy projects often make it challenging for developers to secure financing. Lack of a supportive regulatory framework, including feed-in-tariffs and other incentives, can discourage private investment in wind energy.E.g India aims to achieve 60 GW of wind power by 2022, necessitating a doubling of the current deployment rate.

Political and regulatory challenges: The development of wind energy projects in India is often hindered by political and regulatory challenges, including bureaucratic delays, corruption, and a lack of clear policy directives.

Environmental issues : Killing of birds by turbines or fans of wind projects. E.g The Great Indian Bustard, an endangered bird, has been affected by wind turbines in the Kutch region.

Conclusion:

India to overcome these limitations and promote the development of wind energy projects. Government has implemented a national wind energy policy to encourage private investment in wind energy, and it has initiatives to improve the transmission infrastructure in the country. India is continuously moving towards complying with its climate change commitments under the Paris Agreement (COP21).