Lok Sabha Question No. 730 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-04
Subject: Tendering of Offshore Wind Energy
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Dr. T Sumathy Alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 730

ANSWERED ON 04.02.2026

## TENDERING OF OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY

## 730. DR. T SUMATHY ALIAS THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to launch India's first offshore wind energy tender off the Tamil Nadu coast with an initial target of 1 gigawatt (GW) capacity and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) has completed or is completing LiDAR assessments near Dhanushkodi for this purpose and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any Tamil Nadu -specific viability gap funding or incentives have been earmarked under the national offshore wind framework and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether delays in finalizing offshore wind support mechanisms have affected Tamil Nadu's pipeline of renewable investments and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps proposed to priorities offshore wind deployment in States facing land constraints but strong renewable manufacturing and export capacity such as Tamil Nadu?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (c) 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 energy projects (500 MW each off the coast of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu) and upgradation of two ports to meet logistics requirements for offshore wind energy projects. The viability gap funding earmarked for each 500 MW offshore wind energy projects off  the  coast  of  Gujarat  and  Tamil  Nadu  are  Rs.  4064  Cr  and  Rs.  2755  Cr,  respectively. However,  the  projects  capacity  can  be  proportionately  reduced  in  case  of  VGF  found inadequate or VGF can be utilized for additional capacity in case of savings.

National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) has installed floating LiDAR buoy for the wind resource assessment of Tamil Nadu site. NIWE also carried out Geophysical study for Tamil Nadu site. The tender for the development of Tamil Nadu offshore wind project is linked to the outcomes of wind resource assessment and other studies.

Further,  NIWE  has  completed  the  met-mast  based  wind  resource  measurements  near Dhanushkodi. The report has also been published in public domain through NIWE website. Based on the measurement campaign for one continuous year (October, 2013 to September, 2014), the annual average wind speed is 8.65 meter per second and Wind Power Density is 536 Watt per meter square at 102 meter above sea level for Dhanushkodi.

(d) The renewable energy capacity addition and investment in solar and wind sector in the State of Tamil Nadu during last three financial years are given in Annexure .

(e) Government has taken several steps 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.
- For initial phase of developments, potential offshore wind zones off the coast of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu have been identified through meso-scale study.
- Installation of a LiDAR by NIWE off the coast of Gujarat in Nov, 2017 and collection of  02  years  wind  data.  NIWE  has  also  conducted  Geophysical,  Geotechnical  study, Rapid EIA study, Oceanographic study (Wave, Tide & Current) for a site equivalent to 1 GW capacity off the coast of Gujarat.
- 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. Geophysical study for 500 MW site off TN coast has also been completed.
- Issuance of a 'Strategy Paper for Establishment of Offshore Wind Energy Projects' in July, 2022 indicating various development models.
- 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.
- Central  Transmission  Utility  (CTU)  has  completed  the  planning  for  initial  10  GW offshore transmission capacity (05 GW each off Gujarat and Tamil Nadu coast).
- The  Union  Cabinet  has  launched  the ' Viability  Gap  Funding  (VGF)  scheme  for offshore wind energy projects '. The scheme guidelines for implementation of 'VGF Scheme for Offshore Wind Energy Projects' issued on 11 th September 2024.
- 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

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## Referred in reply of part (d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 730 to be

## answered on 04.02.2026

| Renewable energy capacity addition and investment in solar and wind sector in the State of Tamil Nadu   | Renewable energy capacity addition and investment in solar and wind sector in the State of Tamil Nadu   | Renewable energy capacity addition and investment in solar and wind sector in the State of Tamil Nadu   | Renewable energy capacity addition and investment in solar and wind sector in the State of Tamil Nadu   | Renewable energy capacity addition and investment in solar and wind sector in the State of Tamil Nadu   | Renewable energy capacity addition and investment in solar and wind sector in the State of Tamil Nadu   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Financial Year                                                                                          | RE capacity addition (In MW)                                                                            | Solar Capacity addition (In MW)                                                                         | Investment for solar capacity addition* (Rs. In Crore)                                                  | Wind Capacity addition (In MW)                                                                          | Investment for wind capacity addition* (Rs. In Crore)                                                   |
| 2022-23                                                                                                 | 1821.55                                                                                                 | 1669.25                                                                                                 | 6677.00                                                                                                 | 150.80                                                                                                  | 1055.6                                                                                                  |
| 2023-24                                                                                                 | 2063.07                                                                                                 | 1474.95                                                                                                 | 5899.80                                                                                                 | 586.37                                                                                                  | 4104.59                                                                                                 |
| 2024-25                                                                                                 | 3079.74                                                                                                 | 1942.20                                                                                                 | 7768.80                                                                                                 | 1136.37                                                                                                 | 7954.59                                                                                                 |
| 2025-26 (Upto Dec, 2025)                                                                                | 1871.66                                                                                                 | 1511.23                                                                                                 | 6044.92                                                                                                 | 335.43                                                                                                  | 2348.01                                                                                                 |
| Total                                                                                                   | 8836.02                                                                                                 | 6597.63                                                                                                 | 26390.52                                                                                                | 2208.97                                                                                                 | 15462.79                                                                                                |