The country's energy mix now boasts a share of 10.9% of renewable energy in terms of installed capacity, contributing about 4.13% to the electricity generation mix. Wind power accounts for 70% of this renewable installed capacity.
The Indian wind energy sector has an installed capacity of 13.1 GW (as on 31.3.2011). In terms of wind power installed capacity, India is ranked 5th in the world, and is a considered a major player in the global wind energy market.
The potential is far from exhausted. The Indian Wind Energy Association has estimated that with the current level of technology, the ‘on-shore’ potential for utilization of wind energy for electricity generation is of the order of 100000 MW.
The unexploited resource availability has the potential to sustain the growth of wind energy sector in India in the years to come.
Here's a graphic look at the wind power scenario in India.
Considering the growing need for energy, the Indian wind power scenario is currently in a dynamic phase of high growth.
Let's look at some key facts:
Total Installed Capacity: 173626.40 MW
Peak Demand Shortage: 9.8%
Energy Shortage: 8.5%
Growth in Demand: 3.7%
Proposed Capacity Additions: 62,3700 MW by 2012
The states with highest wind power concentration are Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
Growing concern for the environmental degradation has led to the world's interest in renewable energy resources. Wind is commercially and operationally the most viable renewable energy resource and accordingly, emerging as one of the largest source in terms of the renewable energy sector.
Today the Indian market is emerging as one of the major manufacturing hubs for wind turbines in Asia. Currently, seventeen manufacturers have an annual production capacity of 7,500 MW. According to the World Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE), the annual wind turbine manufacturing capacity in India is likely to exceed 17,000 MW by 2013
Wind energy will witness abundant opportunities in the developing economies such as India, where the power supply situation and infrastructure development efforts provide a huge market for active investment.
Source:www.gwec.net