Lok Sabha Question No. 5353 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-25
Subject: Pilot Projects for Offshore Wind Energy
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Shri Kota Srinivasa Poojary, Shri Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, Shri Yogender Chandolia, Shri Ravindra Shukla Alias Ravi Kishan, Shri Avimanyu Sethi, Shri Mukeshkumar Chandrakaant Dalal, Shri Shankar Lalwani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5353

ANSWERED ON 25.03.2026

## PILOT PROJECTS FOR OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY

5353. SHRI KOTA SRINIVASA POOJARY

SHRI VISHWESHWAR HEGDE KAGERI

SHRI YOGENDER CHANDOLIA

SHRI RAVINDRA SHUKLA ALIAS RAVI KISHAN

SHRI AVIMANYU SETHI

SHRI MUKESHKUMAR CHANDRAKAANT DALAL

SHRI SHANKAR LALWANI

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

- (a) whether the Government has identified potential offshore wind energy zones along the Indian coastline;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of estimated offshore wind energy potential in the Country;
- (d) whether pilot projects have been initiated for offshore wind power generation;
- (e) if so, the details thereof; and
- ( f) the details of steps taken by the Government to attract private investment in offshore wind energy projects?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)

- (a) to (c) Based on the meso-scale study 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 offshore wind energy zones. As per assessment, it has been estimated that about 70 Giga Watt (GW) offshore wind power potential exists off the coast of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
- (d) & (e): In order to kick start the offshore Wind energy sector in the country, Government has launched the 'Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme for offshore wind energy projects' with total outlay  of  ₹  7453  crore  for  installation  and  commissioning  of  1  GW  of  offshore  wind  ene rgy projects and grant for upgradation of two ports to meet logistics requirements for offshore wind energy projects. MNRE has issued Scheme Guidelines for implementation of 'VGF Scheme for Offshore Wind Energy Projects' vide sanction dated 11.09.2024. Und er the scheme, the first tender for development of 500 MW offshore wind energy project off Gujarat coast issued by Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) on 13.09.2024. The tender was closed on 31.07.2025 (last date of bid submission) without receipt of any bids.
- (f)  Government  has  taken  several  steps  to  attract  private  investment  in  offshore  wind  energy projects in the country. 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 each off the coast Tamil Nadu and Gujarat have been identified through meso-scale study.
- Installed a LiDAR off Gujarat Coast in Nov, 2017 and collected 02 years wind data.  NIWE has  also  conducted  Geophysical,  Geotechnical  study,  Rapid  EIA  study,  Oceanographic (Wave, Tide & current study) for 01 GW capacity off Gujarat coast.
- Geotechnical study at three bore hole locations carried out off Tamil Nadu coast. Further, 4 LiDARs off Tamil Nadu coast installed for wind resource measurement. Offshore metocean field studies and Geophysical & Geotechnical investigation for a 500 MW capacity site off Tamil Nadu coast has also been completed.
- Central Transmission Utility (CTU) has completed the planning for initial 10 GW offshore transmission capacity (05 GW each off Gujarat and Tamil Nadu coast.
- 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.

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