Wind Power Capacity May Exceed India's Estimate by Fivefold

India can build wind power plants that may be able to generate almost five times more than the government’s estimate by 2030, according to a study by the Global World Energy Council.

Wind energy capacity can climb to as much as 231,000 megawatts in India, compared with the government’s forecast of 48,000 megawatts from 216 potential sites, according to the study, produced in partnership with the Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association.
The government’s estimate may be on the conservative side and “technological improvements and the exploitation of a vast offshore wind resource could significantly increase this potential,” the study said. “One cannot play down the 7,000 kilometers (4,350 miles) of coastline.”

India gives tax breaks and loans to companies building alternative energy power plants to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and cut the country’s emissions of gases blamed for global warming. The South Asian nation has said it will keep per-capita emissions below the global average and will resist legally binding caps on producing greenhouse gases.

According to the so-called advanced scenario presented in the report, India could save 550 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions a year and attract 475 billion rupees of investments in wind energy annually.

Bloomberg