Key Details
India’s wind energy programme is moving beyond capacity expansion towards grid integration, offshore deployment, and long-term energy security.
Installed Capacity: Wind power capacity increased from 21.04 GW in 2014 to 56.09 GW in March 2026.
Annual Addition: India added a record 6.05 GW of wind capacity during FY 2025–26.
Manufacturing Base: Domestic turbine manufacturing capacity has expanded to approximately 24 GW, with 70–80% indigenisation across major components.
Offshore Wind: Government approved ₹6,853 crore Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for the country’s first 1,000 MW offshore wind projects off Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
Future Potential: NIWE estimates wind potential at 695.5 GW (120m hub height) and 1,163.9 GW (150m hub height).
Projects Under Construction: Nearly 28 GW of wind capacity is currently under various stages of development.
Summary
Wind Energy Moves from Capacity Creation to System Integration
Ahead of Global Wind Day 2026, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) released a comprehensive review of India’s wind energy sector, highlighting the transition from standalone wind installations to a more integrated role within the country’s clean-energy architecture.
The review notes that wind energy is increasingly being positioned as a complementary resource to solar generation, helping improve grid stability during peak demand periods and non-solar hours. Institutions including CEA, SECI, NIWE, Grid India and IREDA are working on forecasting systems, transmission planning, and hybrid renewable configurations to improve the reliability of renewable power.
Resource Potential Remains Far Above Current Utilisation
According to assessments by the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE), India’s wind resource base remains substantially underutilised. Using data from more than 900 wind-monitoring stations, NIWE estimates gross wind potential of 695.5 GW at 120 metres and 1,163.9 GW at 150 metres hub height.
The resource is concentrated across a handful of states, with Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana accounting for the largest share of technically exploitable potential. These estimates provide the foundation for India’s targets of 100 GW wind capacity by 2030 and 156 GW by 2036.
Offshore Wind Becomes the Next Growth Frontier
The report also highlights the emergence of offshore wind as the sector’s next major growth phase. To catalyse investment, the government has approved ₹6,853 crore in Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for the first 1,000 MW of offshore wind capacity, split equally between projects off the coasts of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
Additional policy support includes a 500 MW Contracts for Difference (CfD) pilot, continued support through the Generation Based Incentive (GBI) framework, and new international partnerships such as the India–UK Offshore Wind Taskforce. Technical cooperation agreements with Denmark and Belgium are also supporting grid integration and offshore deployment planning.
What is a Contract for Difference (CfD)?
A Contract for Difference (CfD) is a revenue-stabilisation mechanism used in renewable energy markets. Under a CfD, the government guarantees developers a pre-agreed electricity price. If market prices fall below this level, the developer receives compensation; if prices rise above it, the excess revenue is returned. The mechanism reduces revenue uncertainty and helps attract investment into capital-intensive renewable energy projects.
Policy Relevance
The Global Wind Day 2026 review highlights how wind power is evolving from a supplementary renewable source into a strategic component of India’s energy transition.
Strengthens Grid Reliability: Wind generation frequently peaks during evening demand periods and complements solar generation, helping improve renewable energy integration.
Accelerates Offshore Renewable Development: The ₹6,853 crore VGF package lowers investment risks for India’s first large-scale offshore wind projects and creates a foundation for future deployment.
Builds Domestic Manufacturing Capacity: Expansion of a 24 GW manufacturing ecosystem with high levels of indigenisation reduces dependence on imported renewable-energy equipment.
Supports Long-Term Energy Security: Diversifying the renewable mix through both onshore and offshore wind reduces exposure to fossil-fuel price volatility and import dependence.
Encourages Private Investment Through Market Reform: Pilot CfD mechanisms and other revenue-stabilisation tools can attract long-term capital into the renewable energy sector.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: As India targets 100 GW of wind capacity by 2030, how can policymakers better integrate wind forecasting, offshore infrastructure, transmission planning, and green industrial demand to maximise the value of the country’s 1,163 GW wind resource potential?
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