India adding 2300 MW wind energy capacity this year

The total installed wind energy based capacity in India was 22,465 MW as of December 31, 2014.

During the financial year 2014, India witnessed a capacity addition of 23 per cent. Wind power generation rose by 2,084 MW year on year. One additional factor that supported the growth was the reintroduction of generation based incentive (GBI) in September 2013.

 

India stands to achieve a capacity addition of 2,300 MW in wind power by the end of this fiscal year. The reintroduction of accelerated depreciation (a form of tax incentive to promote renewable energy) and sizable investments by large independent power producers (IPPs) are bolstering the growth, credit rating agency ICRA has said.

“[The figure implies a] growth of about 10 per cent over the previous year,” ICRA said. With the reintroduction of AD last July, ICRA expects incremental annual demand of about 800 MW from IPPs.

In the first nine months of 2014, India added 1,329 MW of wind power, which is 21 per cent higher compared with the same period the previous year.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh has ratified solar and wind energy policies aimed at making the state the biggest renewable energy producer in another five years. The policies envisage single window system for approval of projects, easy permissions and treatment like industries for according clearances.

“These are the best policies in the country. The flexibility and facilities in the policies do not exist in other [states],” Information Minister Palle Raghunatha Reddy said.

Besides expediting land related permissions for wind or solar energy ventures the power generated would be freed of surcharge if it is sold within the state, the minister said. He added that district collectors are being given powers to allocate land for wind power projects.

At present, Andhra Pradesh generates 897 MW of wind-based energy and the state is targeting 4,000 MW by 2020. The government also plans to increase its solar power generation from 127 MW currently to 5,000 MW in another five years.

The total installed wind energy based capacity in India was 22,465 MW as of December 31, 2014. It constituted nine per cent of the overall installed capacity in the country. Wind energy continues to occupy a dominant share of 66 per cent in total renewable segment.