Lok Sabha Question No. 570 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Exploring Offshore Wind Energy in Karnataka Coast
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Shri B Y Raghavendra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 570

ANSWERED ON 23/07/2025

## EXPLORING OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY IN KARNATAKA COAST

## 570. SHRI B Y RAGHAVENDRA

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

- (a) whether the Union Government has identified the Gujarat and Tamil Nadu as initial priority zones for offshore wind energy development and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government is also exploring the potential for offshore wind projects along other parts of the Indian coastline including Karnataka and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has assessed or proposes to assess the offshore wind potential along the Karnataka coast which offer favourable conditions such as steady wind patterns, shallow seabed and proximity to power infrastructure and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  whether  any  preliminary  wind  resource  mapping,  geophysical  surveys,  or  LiDAR installations have been proposed along the Karnataka coastline to evaluate its offshore wind potential and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the Government proposes to consider initiating feasibility studies or pilot projects along the coastline as a part of its broader strategy to diversify offshore wind development across multiple coastal States and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF  STATE  FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER (SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)

(a):  Based on the preliminary studies carried out by the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) in collaboration with various multilateral  agencies,  the  Government  has  identified eight zones each off the coast of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu as initial priority offshore wind energy zones. Maps showing these identified zones are attached as Annexure-I .

(b) to (d) NIWE has done preliminary offshore wind resource mapping along the entire Indian coastline,  including  Karnataka  up  to  200  nautical  miles  (nm)  from  the  shore.  As  per  the mesoscale data, the annual average wind speed along the Karnataka coast is in the range of 5 -5.2 m/s, which is considered as low speed for development of offshore wind energy projects. Owing  to  low  wind  speed  along  the  Karnataka  coast,  further  studies  such  as  geophysical surveys and LiDAR installations have not been proposed.

(e) Government has carried out feasibility studies for the offshore wind farms development off the  coast  of  Gujarat  and  Tami  Nadu  under  Facilitating  Offshore  Wind  Energy  in  India (FOWIND) program supported by European Union.

For  pilot  projects,  a  'Viability  Gap  Funding  (VGF)  Scheme  for  Offshore  Wind  Energy Projects' have been launched for installation and commissioning of 1000 MW offshore wind projects (500 MW each off the coast of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu).

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Gujarat Offshore Wind Potential Zone

TamilNadu Offshore Wind Potential Zone lal

hrissur

947

Kochi

220

anthapuram 9

Google Earth nage Landsat / Capericus

• 2018 Google

Google Earth tage Landeat / Capenicus

2018 Googe mar SO.NOAA. 15. Navy-NGA, GEBCO

Gulf of Kutch

Legend

Legend

Zone A

Zone A

Zone B

Zone B

Zone C

Zone C

## Annexure-I  to  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred  question  No.  570  to  be  answered  on 23.07.2025 Jamn agar Zone G Zone F

210

Gujarat

Madurai

226

Southern Ghats

1250)

Identified Offshore Wind Zones off Gujarat coast

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Identified Offshore Wind Zones off Tamil Nadu coast

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Zone H

Zone G

Zone H

(145C]

Tiru chirappalli

45A

8 Ahmed