Lok Sabha Question No. 6055 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-04-01
Subject: Offshore Wind Energy Projects in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Dr. T Sumathy Alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian, Thiru D M Kathir Anand

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6055

ANSWERED ON 01.04.2026

## OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PROJECTS IN TAMIL NADU

## 6055. DR. T SUMATHY ALIAS THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN THIRU D M KATHIR ANAND

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that the offshore wind energy projects in Tamil Nadu has a potential of nearly 35 GW off the State's coast and faced significant delays with the first tender for seabed leasing  for  a  4  GW  project  in  the  Gulf  of  Mannar  being  cancelled  by  the  Solar  Energy Corporation of India (SECI) in the year 2025 and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has taken adequate measures to focus on addressing infrastructural and  financial  bottlenecks  and  allocated  required  funds  to  develop  necessary  infrastructure facilities for offshore wind energy projects in Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted a meeting with all the stakeholders including the Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited (TNGECL) and facilitate the speedy execution of offshore wind energy projects in Tamil Nadu; and
- (d) if so, the decisions taken by the Government so far and the significant progress made in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER

## (SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)

- (a) Based on the mesoscale studies, Government has identified 08 offshore wind zones off the coast of Tamil Nadu. These zones have potential of 31 GW capacity.

In order to kick start the offshore wind energy sector off Tamil Nadu coast, Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has issued tender for 'Allocation of Seabed Lease Rights for 4 GW Offshore Wind Power Projects'. However, tender was cancelled in August, 2025 due to no participation from developers.

- (b) In order to develop offshore wind projects and necessary support infrastructure facilities, Government has taken several measures detailed as under;
- Launched 'Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme for offshore wind energy projects' to support installation and commissioning of initial 1 GW of offshore wind energy projects and separate grant for upgradation of two ports to meet logistics requirements for offshore wind energy projects.
- Central Transmission Utility (CTU), a Public Sector Undertaking under Ministry of Power, has completed the planning for initial 10 GW offshore transmission capacity (05 GW each off Gujarat and Tamil Nadu coast.
- (c) Ministry has conducted meetings with the prospective stakeholders including the Tamil Nadu  Green  Energy  Corporation  Limited  (TNGECL),  global  offshore  wind  developers  & turbine manufacturers, financial institutions and other concerned agencies to understand their

concerns and facilitate the speedy execution of offshore wind energy projects in the country including Tamil Nadu.

(d) Government has taken several decision/initiatives to develop offshore wind power projects in the country including Tamil Nadu. These, inter alia, include:

- Notification of 'Offshore Wind Energy Policy' in October 2015 to provide framework for the development of offshore wind energy in the country.
- The Offshore Wind Energy Lease Rules, 2023 have been notified to regulate the grant of lease of offshore areas for development of offshore wind energy projects.
- For initial phase of developments, 08 potential offshore wind zones off the coast Tamil Nadu have been identified through meso-scale study.
- Central Transmission Utility (CTU) has completed the transmission planning.
- Government has launched the 'Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme for offshore wind energy projects'.
- 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 along with waiver of additional surcharges for open access consumers for offshore wind power projects commissioned on or before 31.12.2032.

Further, NIWE has carried out Geotechnical study at three bore hole locations off Tamil Nadu coast. In addition, 4 LiDARs off Tamil Nadu coast installed for wind resource measurement. Offshore met-ocean field studies and Geophysical & Geotechnical investigation for a 500 MW capacity site off Tamil Nadu coast has also been completed.

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