By Enersider Desk | New Delhi
A new report from the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) underscores the critical role of wind energy in India’s clean energy ambitions. To meet its target of 500 GW from non-fossil fuels by 2030, India must achieve 100 GW of installed wind capacity, a goal that mirrors the global trend where renewables are set to meet half of all electricity demand.
The report highlights significant progress, with domestic wind turbine manufacturing capacity soaring from 12 GW to 20 GW between 2022 and 2024, cementing India’s position as the world’s third-largest wind manufacturing hub. Scaling up annual installations to 8-15 GW could boost local content from 65% to 85%, furthering the vision of an ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and positioning India to meet 10% of global wind demand by 2030. The economic and employment benefits are substantial. Achieving 8 GW of annual installations could create 1.16 million jobs across manufacturing, construction, and operations, a figure that could nearly triple to 3.07 million jobs at a 15 GW pace.
Wind power is also identified as a key to affordable 24/7 renewable energy. It complements solar by generating power during evenings and monsoons, raising capacity utilisation and reducing reliance on costlier solar-plus-battery storage, which lowers overall tariffs. Furthermore, wind-led solutions can slash transmission infrastructure costs by nearly 50% compared to solar-with-storage projects.
Despite strong policy support, including wind-specific renewable purchase obligations (RPOs) and waived inter-state transmission charges, execution bottlenecks threaten progress. Approximately 42 GW of capacity awaits power sale agreement signing, and 11 GW is delayed in grid commissioning. Without resolution, installations could stall at 81-84 GW by 2030, falling short of the national target.
Ultimately, achieving the 100 GW wind goal is pivotal for India’s Net Zero by 2070 pathway. Multiple studies confirm that 75-160 GW of wind capacity is essential for a secure, reliable, and least-cost energy mix, making it a cornerstone of the nation’s energy transition.
Image Credits: GWEC
