The Government has taken several steps to enhance the offshore wind power generation capacity in the country. These, inter alia, include;

• • Government notified ‘Offshore Wind Energy Policy’ in October 2015 to provide framework for the development of offshore wind energy in the country.
  • National Institute of Wind Energy had issued ‘Guidelines for Offshore wind Power Assessment, Studies and Surveys’ in September, 2018 in order to facilitate the offshore wind studies/surveys by interested developers.
  • For initial phase of developments, potential offshore wind zones off the coast of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu have been identified through meso-scale study.
  • NIWE installed a LiDAR off the coast of Gujarat in Nov, 2017 and collected 02 years wind data. NIWE has also conducted Geophysical, Geotechnical study, Rapid EIA study, Oceanographic study (Wave, Tide & current) for a site off the coast of Gujarat
  • Geotechnical study at three bore hole locations and Rapid EIA study for installation and commissioning of a LiDAR off Tamil Nadu coast has been carried out.
  • Ministry has issued a ‘Strategy Paper for Establishment of Offshore Wind Energy Projects’ in July, 2022 indicating various development models.
  • For seabed leasing of initial 04 GW offshore wind capacity sites off Tamil Nadu coast, the draft tender document along with contractual agreements have been been prepared and circulated for stakeholder comments.

· The ‘Offshore Wind Energy Lease Rules’ to regulate the allocation of offshore wind sea blocks to developers has been prepared and legally vetted.

• • Central Transmission Utility (CTU) has completed the planning for initial 10 GW offshore transmission capacity (05 GW each off Gujarat and Tamil Nadu coast).
  • Offshore Wind has been included in the list of activities to be considered for trading of Carbon Credits under bilateral/co-operative approaches as per Article 6.2 Mechanism of Paris Agreement.
  • Waiver of Inter-State Transmission (ISTS) Charges has been extended for offshore wind power projects commissioned on or before 31.12.2032 with graded ISTS charges thereafter.
  • Waiver of additional surcharge is granted for electricity produced from offshore wind projects commissioned up to December, 2032 and supplied to Open Access Consumers.

Presently, there is no offshore wind power capacity under commissioning in the country.

This information was given by The Union Minister of New Renewable Energy & Power Sh. R. K. Singh in Lok Sabha in a written reply today.

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AM/DP

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