Wind Energy vs Avian & Marine Ecology: A Double-Edged Sword for India’s Green Goals

✍️ By: Suryavanshi IAS | For UPSC GS (Prelims + Mains GS1, GS3, Environment & Geography)

📌 CONTEXT

India’s renewable energy expansion, particularly in the wind energy sector, has reached new heights. In the first half of 2025, India added 3.5 GW of wind power (an 82% YoY growth), taking the total to 51.3 GW. However, a groundbreaking study by the Wildlife Institute of India reveals that India’s Thar Desert now records the highest bird mortality rate at wind farms in the world, raising alarm bells for conservationists and policy planners alike.

🗺️ UPSC SYLLABUS LINKAGE

Paper	Topic	Relevance
Prelims GS	Environment & Ecology	Renewable energy, impact on fauna, wildlife protection
Mains GS Paper I	Geography – Distribution of resources	Wind energy zones, Thar Desert, coastal geography
Mains GS Paper III	Environment, Conservation, Climate Change	EIA, biodiversity impact, sustainable development

🔍 KEY FINDINGS OF THE STUDY

🔹 Terrestrial Wind Energy (Thar Desert – Jaisalmer, Rajasthan)

Survey Area: 3,000 sq. km; home to 900 wind turbines and 272 bird species, including the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps).
Methodology: Carcass search within 150-m radius of 90 randomly selected wind turbines.
Result: 124 bird carcasses found across 7 surveys.
Adjusted mortality rate: 4,464 birds/year per 1,000 sq. km (after correction for detection and scavenging).
Control Sites (500–2000 m away): No carcasses found → confirms turbine impact.
Highest deaths: Raptors (birds of prey) – similar to global trends.
Flyway Zone: Thar lies in Central Asian Flyway – a key migratory route.

🔹 Comparison to Previous Studies:

Kutch & Davangere (2019 study):
➤ 0.47 bird deaths/turbine/year
Thar Desert (2025):
➤ 1.24 bird deaths/turbine/month

👉 Significance: One of the highest global mortality rates in a single region.

🌊 Offshore Wind Energy: Promise with Caution

🔸 India’s Potential:

Target: 30 GW offshore wind by 2030
Coastline: 7,600 km
EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone): 2.3 million sq. km

🔸 Gulf of Khambhat (Gujarat) – Case Study

Rapid EIA conducted
Marine life identified: 5 marine mammals (including dolphins and sharks), 1 marine reptile.
Threats during construction: Noise, turbidity → may repel sensitive species
Operational phase: EIA termed noise/vibrations as "limited"

🔸 Key Gaps:

Limited long-term research on offshore wind’s ecological impact in Indian context
Mandatory EIAs only for offshore projects (as per National Offshore Wind Energy Policy)

⚠️ ENVIRONMENTAL & ECOLOGICAL CONCERNS

Impact Type	Description
Bird Collisions	Blades rotate at high speed; especially dangerous for raptors and migratory birds
Habitat Fragmentation	Infrastructure disrupts natural habitat and nesting
Flyway Disruption	Thar lies in a global migratory route; turbines create barriers
Marine Disturbances	Noise pollution during construction → affects dolphins, fishes, sharks
Carcass Degradation & Scavenging Bias	Affects detection accuracy; corrected in the 2025 study

🛠️ SUGGESTED MITIGATION STRATEGIES

Proposed By	Suggestion
BirdLife International	Paint one turbine blade black to improve visibility
	Shut turbines during high-risk seasons/times
	Radar-based real-time shutdown systems
Selvaraj (Expert)	Most effective: Site selection before construction

🔗 LINKING WITH UPSC PYQs (Past 8 Years)

🔹 Prelims

(UPSC 2020)

Q: With reference to the carbon nanotubes, consider the following statements:
...
🟩 Relevance: Shows UPSC's preference for questions blending tech and environment.

(UPSC 2018)

Q: Which of the following are the reasons for the formation of fog in the atmosphere?
🟩 Relevance: Fog, wind flow, and ecological patterns – interconnected.

(UPSC 2016)

Q: Which of the following is/are the characteristic/characteristics of Indian coal?
🟩 Relevance: Emphasizes energy resource evaluation – including renewables now.

🔹 Mains

GS Paper III (2021)

“Describe the benefits of alternative clean energy sources and their implications for India’s energy security.”
✅ Add point: Wind energy’s trade-off with avian and marine life

GS Paper III (2019)

“What are the impediments in disposing of the huge quantities of discarded solid waste which are continuously being generated?”
✅ Link to turbine lifecycle waste (blades are hard to recycle)

GS Paper I (2020)

“Discuss the factors for the location of renewable energy projects in India.”
✅ Apply the Thar Desert example with ecological caution.

📚 UPSC ENRICHMENT POINTS

Quote: “India’s green future should not come at the cost of its flying jewels.”
Statistic: 4,464 birds/year per 1,000 sq. km in Thar
Map: Mark Thar Desert, Gulf of Khambhat, Central Asian Flyway

🧠 VALUE ADD FOR MAINS ANSWERS

Keyword	Usage
Flyway Conflict Zones	Use in GS1/GS3 for migratory routes + infrastructure development overlap
Wind-Energy-Biodiversity Paradox	For Essays / GS3 Environment
EIA Gaps in Renewable Sector	Realistic criticism of India’s green development path
Eco-centric vs Tech-centric Development	Ethical angle for Essay or GS4

✅ PRACTICE MCQ FOR UPSC PRELIMS

Q: With reference to India’s wind energy development, which of the following statements is/are correct?

All renewable energy projects in India are mandated to undergo an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
Offshore wind energy projects require EIA as per current policy.
The Thar Desert is located on a major migratory flyway.

Options:
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only ✅
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

✍️ MAINS ANSWER FRAMEWORK (GS3)

Q: "Renewable energy is essential for sustainability, but its ecological footprint must be acknowledged." In the context of wind energy, critically examine this statement.

Structure:

Intro: India’s RE targets, wind energy rise
Body:
- Ecological impacts (terrestrial + marine)
- Thar study, Gulf of Khambhat case
- Global examples
- Policy gaps (lack of EIA for onshore, limited marine research)
Conclusion: Balanced approach: Energy + Ecology = True Sustainability

Suryavanshi IAS

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