Dr Farooq Abdullah releases 'Indian Wind Energy Outlook - 2009'

Honorable minister for new and renewable energy, Dr Farooq Abdullah, released a book titled 'Indian Wind Energy Outlook - 2009' on the 9 September 2009 in New Delhi. The report has been published jointly by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association (IWTMA).

The report examines the potential of wind power in India upto the year 2030 and has found that the technology, re-powering, untapped off-shore potential and furthering wind resource assessment could play a key part in the nation's effort to provide energy to its ever growing demand in an economy which will boom and at the same time combat climate change.

The ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) has formulated several policies and guidelines which include setting up of demonstration plans in the past which laid the foundation for speedy growth of this sector.

Today, 10 states have declared wind energy policy and eight states are active in implementation with Tamil Nadu topping the list. MNRE is planning to introduce Generation Based Incentive which is expected to attract foreign director investment and independent power producers.

Steve Sawyer, secretary general, GWEC, said, "India is already an established force in the global wind energy markets, and yet it has the potential to achieve more. Wind energy can be deployed at a very large scale in a very short period of time, keeping in mind India's own ambitious plan of achieving 10 per cent of energy through Renewable Energy Sources by 2020 and 20 per cent by 2030.''

The report explains how India can provide up to 24 per cent of India's power needs by 2030, in a very optimistic and perhaps unbelievable estimate attracting billions of investment and create green collar jobs. The report covers three different scenarios, namely, normal or reference, moderate and advanced. The reference scenario which is modest seems to be in line with the estimates of MNRE.