Lok Sabha Question No. 108 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-20
Subject: Offshore Wind Power Generation Capacity
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Jagannath Sarkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 108 ANSWERED ON 20.07.2023

## OFFSHORE WIND POWER GENERATION CAPACITY

## 108. SHRI JAGANNATH SARKAR

Will the Minister of NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Government has taken any steps to enhance the offshore wind power generation capacity in the country due to advantage of having huge coastline;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the details of the number of offshore wind power generators currently being commissioned in the country, particularly in the State of West Bengal?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER (SHRI R.K. SINGH)

(a) & (b) The Government has taken several steps to enhance the offshore wind power generation capacity in the country. These, inter alia , include;

- Government notified 'Offshore Wind Energy Policy' in October 2015 to provide framework for the development of offshore wind energy in the country.
- National  Institute  of  Wind  Energy  had  issued  'Guidelines  for  Offshore  wind  Power Assessment, Studies and Surveys' in September, 2018 in order to facilitate the offshore wind studies/surveys by interested developers.
- For initial phase of developments, potential offshore wind zones off the coast of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu have been identified through meso-scale study.
- NIWE  installed a LiDAR off the coast of Gujarat in Nov, 2017 and collected 02 years wind data.    NIWE  has  also  conducted  Geophysical,  Geotechnical  study,  Rapid  EIA  study, Oceanographic study (Wave, Tide & current) for a site off the coast of Gujarat
- Geotechnical  study  at  three  bore  hole  locations  and  Rapid  EIA  study  for  installation  and commissioning of a LiDAR off Tamil Nadu coast has been carried out.
- Ministry has issued a 'Strategy Paper for Establishment of Offshore Wind Energy Projects' in July, 2022 indicating various development models.
- For sea bed leasing of initial 04 GW offshore wind capacity sites off Tamil Nadu coast, the draft  tender  document  along  with  contractual  agreements  have  been  been  prepared  and circulated for stakeholder comments.
- The 'Offshore Wind Energy Lease Rules' to regulate the allocation of offshore wind sea blocks to developers has been prepared and legally vetted.
- Central Transmission Utility (CTU) has completed the planning for initial 10 GW offshore transmission capacity (05 GW each off Gujarat and Tamil Nadu coast).
- Offshore Wind has been included in the list of activities to be considered for trading of Carbon Credits  under  bilateral/co-operative  approaches  as  per  Article  6.2  Mechanism  of  Paris Agreement.
- Waiver of Inter-State Transmission (ISTS) Charges has been extended for offshore wind power projects commissioned on or before 31.12.2032 with graded ISTS charges thereafter.
- Waiver of additional surcharge is granted for electricity produced from offshore wind projects commissioned up to December, 2032 and supplied to Open Access Consumers.
- (c) Presently, there is no offshore wind power capacity under commissioning in the country.

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