India needs to fuel wind installations by 22% to reach 2032 target

Various states plan to contract over 100 GW of wind capacity by 2030.

To achieve its target of 122 gigawatts (GW) of wind capacity by March 2032, India needs to step up its game by increasing its deployment by 22%, a new report by Ember said.

According to the think tank, ramping up wind capacity will complement India’s push for solar power as electricity generated from this source drops significantly during non-solar hours.

“Whilst India is pushing for energy storage capacity deployments to address this issue, finding alternatives is critical to maintain the momentum of India’s energy transition,” the report read. 

“In this context, ramping up wind offers strategic advantages especially because of its diurnal, seasonal and spatial complementarity with solar power,” it added.

Ember said 21 out of 27 Indian states plan to contract more than 100 GW of wind capacity by 2030. Even those with limited capacity, such as Odisha, Jharkhand, Punjab, and Bihar, are planning to include wind in their energy supply mix. 

This presents an opportunity for wind-rich states to export surplus generation to these states, the think tank said.

Aside from fueling energy transition, the wind sector’s growth offers other economic benefits. These include creation of green jobs, both in capacity deployment and manufacturing and the opportunity to become an export hub for wind turbines and associated components, further boosting the country’s economic development, Ember said.