India

Introduction

India recorded its strongest-ever performance in the wind energy sector during the reporting period (January 2025 - March 2026), confirming its position as one of the world's leading wind markets. As of 31 March 2026, India's cumulative installed wind power capacity reached 56.09 GW, with a record annual addition of 6.05 GW in FY 2025-26, a 46% increase over the 4.15 GW added in FY 2024-25, surpassing the previous record of 5.5 GW set in FY 2016-17 [1][2]. On a calendar-year basis, GWEC reports that India added 6.34 GW in 2025, ranking third globally for annual wind additions, ahead of Germany and Brazil [3]. India also moved to third position globally in cumulative renewable energy installed capacity per IRENA Statistics 2026 [1]. Offshore wind capacity remains at 0 GW; no decommissioning was reported.

Wind generated an estimated 83-90 TWh in FY 2024-25 / FY 2025-26, contributing approximately 4.5-5.0% of national electricity generation [4]. Growth was driven by improved transmission readiness, expanded wind-solar hybrid tenders, open-access procurement, and Wind Renewable Consumption Obligation (RCO) frameworks [2]. Wind remains central to India's target of 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030 - a milestone reflected in India crossing 50% non-fossil installed capacity in June 2025, five years ahead of the NDC target [1].

National wind energy RD&D budget: ~EUR 25 million (₹228 crore) under MNRE's RE-RTD Programme 2021-2026 [5].

Market Development

Targets and Policy

India's wind sector operates within the overarching target of 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030 under its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) [1]. The wind-specific target is 100 GW by 2030 (MNRE), with the National Electricity Plan (NEP14) projecting 121.9 GW of wind capacity by 2031-32 [7]. GWEC's India Wind Report 2025 projects a base case of 107 GW by 2030 in line with state Resource Adequacy Plans; NREL, IEA, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory recommend a higher range of 121-164 GW [8].

The National Offshore Wind Energy Policy (2015) designates NIWE as nodal agency. The Cabinet approved a Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme of ₹7,453 crore (~USD 893 million) in June 2024 for an initial 1 GW of offshore capacity plus port infrastructure [6][9]. SECI cancelled 4.5 GW of offshore tenders in 2025 due to limited developer participation; renewed tendering is anticipated in 2026 [3].

Onshore policy support strengthened materially in 2025-26: (i) ISTS charge waiver extended to June 2028 for wind projects [2]; (ii) Wind Renewable Consumption Obligation (RCO) framework notified; (iii) the ALMM (Wind) framework amended on 31 July 2025 with SoP issued 29 October 2025, mandating domestic sourcing of key components [1]; (iv) the REEIMS portal launched October 2025 for real-time import monitoring [1]; (v) GST on RE devices reduced from 12% to 5% in September 2025 [1]; (vi) 66 GW of windy sites classified for MoD clearance, expediting permitting [1]; (vii) a Task Force on Wind Power Projects constituted 15 January 2026, with Grid-India, CTU, NIWE, MoP, State Departments and industry [1]. Green Energy Corridor (GEC) Phases I and II continued; Phase III at ₹56,000 crore was proposed in Union Budget FY 2025-26 [10].

Progress and Operational Details

India added 6.05 GW in FY 2025-26, the highest single-year addition ever [2]. Gujarat, Karnataka, and Maharashtra were the primary contributors, supported by a growing wind-solar hybrid pipeline and progressive roll-out of Green Open Access [2]. Cumulative installed wind reached 56.09 GW as on 31 March 2026; Gujarat retained the largest state share (~27%), followed by Tamil Nadu (~22%) [1][11]. New installations reflect a clear shift toward hub heights of 120-160 m and rotor diameters of 140 m+, with rated capacities in the 2.5-5.2 MW range; the indigenously manufactured 5.2 MW turbine at 120 m hub height remains the largest installed [11]. Wind auction tariffs rose from a record low of ₹2.43/kWh (December 2017) to ₹3.17-3.80/kWh in 2024-25, reflecting higher land and development costs [11]. The Updated Repowering Policy (2023) enables pre-end-of-life turbine upgrades; it is estimated that 25.4 GW repowering potential in sub-2 MW turbines exists[5]. Offshore installed capacity remains at zero.

Market Structure

Major independent power producers include ReNew Power, Greenko, Adani Green Energy, Torrent Power, and Suzlon Energy. SECI and NTPC are the principal central-government offtakers. Indian OEMs under the ALMM (Wind) framework - led by Suzlon Energy - operate alongside Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, Vestas, Envision, and GE Vernova. Corporate PPAs and open-access procurement were the dominant channel for new capacity in 2025.

Matters Affecting Growth and Work to Remove Barriers

Transmission infrastructure remains the most acute constraint. Over 50 GW of renewable capacity was stranded nationally as of mid-2025 due to grid evacuation limitations [10]. In FY 2024-25, only 8,830 circuit km of transmission lines were commissioned against a 15,253 ckm target - a 42% shortfall [12]. Land acquisition challenges persist in states with fragmented holdings; the January 2026 Task Force is intended to coordinate resolution. Market uncertainty - notably the 2025 offshore cancellations - affected investor sentiment. Mitigation includes General Network Access (GNA), the ISTS waiver extension to June 2028, the CEA's shift to potential-based transmission planning with semi-annual revisions (September 2025), and MoD-clearance mapping covering 66 GW of windy sites [1][10].

RD&D Activities

National RD&D Priorities and Budget

India's wind RD&D is coordinated by MNRE and implemented principally through the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE), Chennai - India's apex technical institution for wind energy under MNRE. The RE-RTD (Renewable Energy Research and Technology Development) Programme 2021-2026, with an outlay of approximately ₹228 crore (~EUR 25 million), funds wind technology development, offshore wind research, grid integration, forecasting, and digitalisation [5]. NIWE's R&D Vision Document (2025) sets short-, medium- and long-term research priorities in offshore wind, AI-based forecasting, condition monitoring, floating wind, grid stability, hybrid systems, and digitalisation - drawing substantially from IEA Wind TCP Task outputs [5]. RD&D investment for wind has remained modest relative to deployment scale, with increasing emphasis on offshore and hybrid integration. NIWE also operates the Data Analytics Framework for centralised wind and solar measurement data analytics.

National Research Initiatives and Results

1. National Wind Atlas at 150 m agl: NIWE published the National Wind Potential Atlas at 150 m hub height, estimating total onshore potential at 1,163.9 GW; at 120 m agl with minimum 25% CUF, potential is 695.5 GW. Over 900 wind-monitoring stations have been installed nationally [6].

2. Offshore Resource Characterisation (Gulf of Khambhat): NIWE completed a geophysical survey covering approximately 365 sq km in the Gulf of Khambhat, Gujarat, assessing seabed soil profiles for the proposed 1 GW offshore zone. LiDAR-based offshore wind measurement at Zone B (~25 km from Pipavav Port) produced two years of publicly available data [5].

3. Floating LiDAR Demonstration (NIOT-NIWE): A full-scale floating LiDAR buoy, underdeveloped by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) in coordination with NIWE, was deployed in Muttom (Tamil Nadu coast) and operated continuously, collecting preliminary data. Other NIWE measurement campaign in Gulf of Mannar has recorded average wind speed of approximately 10.9 m/s at 150 m hub height, with peaks exceeding 15 m/s during the southwest monsoon. Wake modelling across 14 offshore sub-zones supports planning for cluster development.

4. Indigenous Wind Forecasting Model: NIWE's in-house wind and solar power forecasting system - awarded a National eGovernance Award for state-level Tamil Nadu wind forecasting - integrates real-time monitoring, numerical weather prediction data, and web-based dissemination [5].

Test Facilities and Demonstration Projects

NIWE operates wind turbine test beds at Kayathar, Tamil Nadu, with capacity for multiple installed turbines for performance and certification testing. NIWE is designated by MNRE as India's national Testing and Type Certification Body, conducting IS/IEC 61400-22 type certification [5].

A national calibration wind tunnel facility is being established at Mohasa-Babai Industrial Area, Madhya Pradesh. To strengthen India's testing & calibration infrastructure, a state-of-the-art Calibration Wind Tunnel Facility is being established at the Renewable Energy Equipment Manufacturing Zone developed by MPIDC, Madhya Pradesh, with support from the Ministry of Power and MNRE. The facility will be operated by NIWE. Once commissioned, the facility will provide internationally traceable calibration services for anemometers and wind vanes within India, significantly shortening calibration timelines and lowering costs. It is expected to be the first facility of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region.

A National Offshore Wind Test Centre is proposed at Dhanushkodi, Tamil Nadu (average wind speed ~8.3 m/s), with Two turbine test beds, designed to serve as a dedicated offshore turbine testing facility for South and Southeast Asia [5].

Collaborative Research

India participates as a Contracting Party to the IEA Wind Technology Collaboration Programme (IEA Wind TCP) since August 2021, with NIWE as the national focal point. NIWE has engaged in Task 25 (Grid Integration of Large-Scale Wind Power), Task 41 (Distributed Wind), and Task 43 (Wind Energy Digitalisation - including inputs to wind resource assessment data standards). Technical review of Tasks 56, 57, and 58 (Offshore Wind Design Tools; Wind Flow and Turbine Model Assessment; Offshore Energy Hubs) was undertaken. Formal participation in Task 52 (Large-Scale Deployment of Wind LiDAR) is being formalised - directly supporting NIWE's offshore and complex-terrain LiDAR programmes [NIWE/IEA Wind TCP records].

Bilateral collaborations include skill development through Vayumitra programme). The EU-India FOWIND, FOWPI projects and DEA Denmark Collaborations established foundational offshore wind feasibility assessments for Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, forming the technical basis for current offshore tendering frameworks [5].

Impact of Wind Energy

Environmental Impact

Wind power generation of approximately 90 TWh displaced an equivalent volume of coal-based generation. Based on India's grid emission factor of ~0.82 kg CO₂/kWh (CEA, 2024), this represents an estimated annual CO₂ avoidance of approximately 75 million tonnes [4]. Wind energy contributes directly to India's NDC commitments: a 45% reduction in emissions intensity of GDP below 2005 levels by 2030; and 50% of cumulative installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources - a milestone achieved in June 2025, five years ahead of schedule [1]. On 29 July 2025, renewables met 51.5% of India's total electricity demand (203 GW) on a single day - the highest renewable share ever recorded [1]. Wind's seasonal generation peak during the southwest monsoon (June-September) provides strategic complementarity with solar, reducing system reliance on thermal dispatch during high-demand months. Environmental challenges include documented avian mortality at wind-dense zones in Rajasthan, addressed through revised siting and EIA protocols.

Economic Benefits and Industry Development

India's wind turbine manufacturing capacity has grown from 10 GW/year (2014) to approximately 24 GW/year (2026), positioning India as the world's third-largest wind manufacturing hub [1][6]. The ALMM (Wind) framework (2025) is expected to deepen domestic supply chains for blades, towers, generators, gearboxes and bearings further. Indian OEMs - notably Suzlon Energy - have expanded export operations to the United States, Brazil, Australia and Europe [8]. GWEC projects that scaling wind to 107 GW by 2030 could generate approximately 154,000 additional wind sector jobs [8]. Wind sector employment was estimated at approximately 52,000 direct workers in 2023 (IRENA/ILO 2024), with O&M comprising ~40% and construction ~35% [13]. India's total renewable energy workforce reached approximately 1.02 million in 2023, growing at 5.8% in 2024 [14]. NIWE supports the ecosystem through energy yield assessments, type-testing certification, and ISO/IEC accreditation, enabling project bankability. The sector contributed materially to rural economies through land leasing, infrastructure creation, and local employment in 12+ wind states.

Next Term

Onshore wind additions are projected at 6-8 GW per year through 2025-2027, underpinned by RCO compliance, expanded open-access procurement, hybrid tenders, and the ISTS waiver extension to June 2028. A revised offshore wind auction framework is anticipated in 2026, with Gulf of Mannar and Gujarat as priority zones [3]. GEC Phase III (~₹56,000 crore) is expected to advance through approvals. ALMM (Wind) domestication will deepen component supply chains. NIWE's floating LiDAR field results, complex-terrain LiDAR validation programme, and the proposed Dhanushkodi offshore test centre are expected to progress significantly in 2026-27 [5].

References

1. MNRE / PIB (April 2026). India Ranks Third Globally in Renewable Energy Installed Capacity. PIB Release, 8 April 2026, citing IRENA Renewable Energy Statistics 2026. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2250039
2. MNRE / PIB (April 2026). India Achieves Highest-Ever Annual Wind Capacity Addition of 6.05 GW in FY 2025-26. Press release, 6 April 2026. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India.
3. GWEC (2026). Global Wind Report 2026. Global Wind Energy Council, Brussels. https://www.gwec.net/reports/globalwindreport
4. CEA (2025). Power Sector at a Glance: All India Installed Capacity and Generation Statistics, FY 2024-25. Central Electricity Authority, Government of India. https://cea.nic.in
5. NIWE (2025). R&D Vision Document 2025; Wind Resource Assessment Division Programme Overview; Offshore Wind Measurement Campaign Data. National Institute of Wind Energy, Chennai. https://niwe.res.in
6. MNRE (2025). Wind Overview. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India. https://mnre.gov.in/en/wind-overview/
7. CEA (2023). National Electricity Plan (NEP) 2023-2032, Volume I: Generation. Central Electricity Authority, Government of India. https://cea.nic.in
8. GWEC (2025). Wind at the Core: Driving India's Green Ambitions and International Influence — GWEC India Wind Report 2025. Global Wind Energy Council, Brussels. https://gwec.net
9. Government of India (2024). Cabinet Approval: Viability Gap Funding Scheme for Offshore Wind Energy Projects. PIB, June 2024. PIB ID 2026699.
10. IEEFA (2025). Green Power Transmission Development in India. Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. https://ieefa.org
11. Wind Power in India (2026). Compiled MNRE/CEA/state utility data on installed capacity by state and turbine technology trends, as on 31 March 2026.
12. JMK Research & Analytics (2025-26). India Installs Record 44 GW Solar and 6 GW Wind Capacity in FY 2025-26. Gurugram: JMK Research. https://jmkresearch.com
13. IRENA and ILO (2024). Renewable Energy and Jobs: Annual Review 2024. Abu Dhabi: IRENA. https://irena.org
14. IEA (2025). World Energy Employment 2025. International Energy Agency, Paris. https://iea.org