India to Offer Offshore Wind Leases

India has taken steps towards developing an offshore wind energy industry. Last month, the Indian government revealed plans to adopt an offshore wind policy that will pave the way for the nation to develop offshore wind energy products and research and opportunities in its Exclusive Economic Zone.

The India government will offer tenders for offshore wind leases next year, but the Defense Ministry must approve the applicants prior to the contracts being awarded.

The National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) has been tasked with identifying viable offshore wind energy blocks. According to India’s Renewable Energy Secretary, developers that offer the lowest tariffs for energy developement will be given contracts.

National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) of India will collect lease fees survey, construction and operations of wind farms.

The Indians have made it clear that leases will automatically be relinquished if the contractor is unable to begin commercial production within an unspecified period of time after signing a contract. India’s wind policies are meant to establish a regulatory framework to begin planning projects.

“The development would help the country in moving forward towards attaining energy security and achieve National Action Plan on Climate Change targets,” the government said in a statement.

India currently has 23GW of onshore wind capacity and aims to produce 175GW of clean energy by 2022.