Targets:
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Medium term target for Offshore wind power : 5 GW by 2022
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Long term target for Offshore wind power : 30 GW by 2030
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Target for Onshore wind power : 60 GW
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The offshore wind power will add new element to already existing basket of renewable energy of the country.
Analysis:
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The target set for offshore wind power is moderate in comparison to on-shore wind target of 60 GW and its achievement of 34 GW and solar target of 100 GW by 2022.
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This is mainly because of challenges considering difficulties in installing large wind power turbines in open seas.
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Moreover, offshore wind turbines are of much larger dimensions and capacities than onshore turbines.
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Globally the installation capacity of off-shore wind power is about 17 to 18 GW. It led by countries such as UK, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands & China. Recent years have witnessed fall in off-shore wind tariff in some of these markets.
Steps for Offshore Power :
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MNRE had notified National Offshore Wind Energy Policy in October 2015 for this sector.
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Under it, Chennai based National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) was designated nodal agency to carry out necessary studies and surveys before final bidding of offshore wind project sites.
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It also serves as single window for facilitating necessary clearances required for development of offshore wind projects.
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NIWE had identified southern tip of Indian peninsula and west coast with good potential for off-shore wind power.
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Moreover, preliminary studies were conducted are off coast of Gujarat and that of Tamil Nadu for development of offshore wind power projects.
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It had had installed India’s first offshore LiDAR in Gulf of Khambhat for measurement of wind resource and is collecting wind speed data from November 2017.