MNRE CALLS FOR ‘EXPRESSION OF INTEREST’ FOR FIRST OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PROJECT OF 1,000 MW CAPACITY

The National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE), an autonomous body under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), has called for ‘Expression of Interest’ (EoI) for the first offshore wind energy project of India. The global EoI is intended to shortlist prospective offshore wind energy developers for a 1,000 MW offshore wind energy project in the Gulf of Khambat, off the coast of Gujarat. The proposed area is located 23–40 km seaward side from the Pipavav port. MNRE plans to install at least 5 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2022. As per the National Offshore Wind Energy Policy notified on October, 2015, NIWE, Chennai is the nodal agency to carry out the necessary studies/surveys before the final bidding and acts as a single window for facilitating the necessary clearances required for the development of offshore wind projects in India. The first offshore LiDAR was installed in the Gulf of Khambhat in Gujarat for measurement of wind resource and NIWE is collecting wind speed data from November, 2017 onwards. Areas off the coasts of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu are the two identified areas for the development of offshore wind power. The second LiDAR would be installed off Tamil Nadu coast by September 2018. In addition, NIWE is planning to set up few more LiDARs for assessment of offshore wind resources. Besides, necessary geotechnical and geo-physical studies off the coast of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu are underway.

Source: http://pib.nic.in/