Wind Power Potential in India
The wind power potential in the country is estimated at about 48000 MW. Since early nineties, the Government has been promoting commercial grid connected wind power projects through private sector investment by providing fiscal incentives, such as accelerated depreciation, concessional import duty on certain components of wind electric generators, excise duty exemption, ten years tax holiday on income generated from wind power projects, and loan from Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) and other financial institutions. Technical support, including detailed wind resource assessment to identify further potential sites, is provided by Ministry Centre for Wind Energy Technology (C-WET), Chennai. This apart, preferential tariff is being provided to increase wind energy generation in the potential States. A target of 9,000 MW of wind power has been set for the 11th Plan period.A total wind power capacity of about 11,000 MW has been installed in the country so far.However, in order to broaden the investor base by attracting independent power producers and foreign direct investment companies to the wind sector, the Government is considering a scheme to provide Generation Based Incentive (GBI) over and above the tariff given by respective states, for the electricity fed into the grid by the wind turbines set up till the end of 11th plan period.
