In the third quarter of 2023, India’s wind energy sector added 412 MW of wind turbine generation capacity, marking a notable 53% year-on-year decline, according to the latest data from Mercom India Research.
This decline in capacity growth was primarily attributed to the absence of commissioned projects in two key states: Karnataka and Rajasthan, both of which are typically at the forefront of India’s wind power landscape. Developers in Karnataka, in particular, faced challenges stemming from substation shortages, preventing them from launching projects that were otherwise ready for operation.
Despite the overall drop in capacity, several wind farms successfully began supplying electricity to the grid between July and September. Notable additions included a 107-MW facility in Gujarat, developed by Apraava Energy, a 103-MW park in Tamil Nadu by JSW Energy, and Adani Green’s 55-MW plant, also located in Gujarat.
As of the end of September, India’s cumulative installed wind turbine capacity reached 44.2 GW. Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka collectively accounted for over half of this total, with individual shares of 25.1%, 23.3%, and 12%, respectively.
India has set ambitious renewable energy targets, aiming to achieve 500 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2030, including 280 GW of solar power and 140 GW of wind power. In the current fiscal year, ending in March 2024, a tender program is in the pipeline to facilitate the addition of 10 GW of wind turbines, further supporting the country’s renewable energy aspirations.
