Wind energy is a promising source of renewable energy, but many questions remain unanswered. This article explores wind energy’s potential, disadvantages, and benefits. With the potential of renewable energy being greater than the total energy consumption of the country, why is wind power such a promising option? Why should Indian citizens care about wind energy? And how can individuals make their voice heard? Keeping in mind the different perspectives of local residents will help people decide whether wind power is best for them.
Wind energy
In addition to solar power, wind energy has enormous potential for India. Wind power has been ranked as one of the most cost-effective sources of alternative energy, with India’s cumulative capacity at 100 m above ground already exceeding 30 GW. Wind power development in India has been spurred by private sector investment and government support, and the potential for increasing wind power production in the country is immense. The economic benefits of wind energy in India are numerous.
The National Aeronautical Laboratory (NAL) and the CSIR established the Wind Power Division in the 1960s. The NAL continued to conduct wind velocity surveys and develop improved estimates of India’s wind energy potential. Large-scale wind power development began in Gujarat in 1985 with the Veraval Wind Project, a joint venture between the GEDA and J K Synthetics Ltd. These projects helped establish the Indian wind industry.
Its potential
Wind energy can generate two to three GW of power annually in the country. Governments can encourage its development by providing tax concessions and generation-based incentives. Wind energy’s potential in the country is higher than the government estimates. It can contribute more than three times the total amount of renewable energy that the country uses. However, it is still early to see its full potential. For now, India is making progress. The government is making strides to promote wind energy in the country, but further development needs to be done.
In India, cumulative installed wind capacity is projected to reach 39 GW by March 2021, but the growth has been relatively slow, with only one or two GW added each year. The country has conducted several studies on wind energy, including state-specific wind developments and policy initiatives. However, the slow growth rate in the wind sector in the country makes it imperative to conduct an in-depth review of the Indian wind market. This paper provides a critical assessment of the wind market in India and an overview of global wind market trends.
Its disadvantages
The initial hurdle in deploying wind energy in India is the lack of transmission infrastructure. The cost of electricity generation from wind power is not affordable and the infrastructure needed is not sufficient to transport the heavier components. Also, the wind farms in resource-rich states face problems in absorbing higher quantum of wind power during high windy season. These problems are exacerbated by inadequate and outdated infrastructure, and lack of penalties for power failure.
The other major problem in wind energy is its intermittency. It is difficult to predict the amount of energy generated by wind energy since the wind blows at different speeds. For this reason, suppliers should have an energy reserve. And cities must find alternative power sources if their wind energy generators do not work properly. This article has examined the current situation of wind energy in India and its disadvantages. There are a few potential benefits of using wind energy in India.
Its benefits
Wind energy projects in India have seen a turnaround of almost 27 GW in recent years. This has been attributed to a recent policy which mandates replacing older wind turbines with more powerful and modern ones. The government wants to simplify the regulatory framework while encouraging optimum utilization of the available wind power resources. Under the policy, a wind energy project that was installed before 31 March 2017 is required to be upgraded to a level that can generate three or more GW.
India’s Wind Energy sector has made it possible to harness wind energy even in previously unviable locations. By 2022, the country will have almost double the capacity of its existing wind energy resources. The leading renewable energy states in India are Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat mission has made the country one of the world’s leading countries in wind energy production.