RETURN OF WIND

INDIA’S WIND SECTOR, GOING THROUGH A ROUGH PATCH, IS SET FORA REBOUND AS CENTRE TWEAKS AUCTION POLICY, PLANS OFFSHORE WIND PROJECTS AND FOCUSES ON REPLACING OLD MILLS.

- P.B. Jayakumar Nevin John

THE 350-PLUS employees of wind energy major Suzlon Energy’s nacelle and electrical assembly unit at Dunetha village in Daman are looking forward to return of prosperity. They know their unit’s importance in Suzlon’s manufacturing prowess—about 3,150 MW capacity for wind turbine parts. Nacelles, sitting on top of 120-140 metres high lattice and tubular tower structures at wind farms, house power generating components such as generator, gearbox, braking system and electrical assembly. The Daman unit gives life to 100 tonnes wind turbine generators or WTGs.

NEW POLICY THRUST

Replacing reverse auction with single stage, two-envelope closed bidding process

Target of 30 GW offshore wind installations by 2030

Award of at least eight GW onshore wind tenders per annum till 2030

Repowering of five GW old windmills

Renewable tariffs for each state will be pooled and offered to discoms at average tariff

Developers of projects delayed beyond 18 months could be barred from auctions for five years 

When Suzlon was growing fast from 2004 to 2010, this was a 100% export unit, capable of making three machines a day. Suzlon’s financial troubles forced it to focus on local market. Orders have been erratic for past five years. Suzlon had two similar units at Pondicherry and Udupi which are not operational.