A Leap into Offshore energy
Top global experts have applauded India’s 30 GW offshore wind industry target by 2030 but have called for fresh approach.
“We should indeed applaud the Indian government to set the bar high. We are very optimistic, but India needs a fresh approach because we cannot copy-paste the European example here,” said Morten Dyrholm, Global Senior Vice President, Marketing at Vestas.
India’s 30GW offshore target is “an ambitious and impressive one,” noted Morten Bæk, Vice Minister, Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate, Denmark.
Their comments came as the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) called for ‘Expression of Interest’ for the first offshore wind energy project of India, a 1,000 MW offshore wind energy project in Gulf of Khambat, off the coast of Gujarat.
Additionally, they noted that the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) plans to install at least 5 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2022.
“The Indian government and policy makers are on the right path as they have set clear targets. The scenario is very promising,” said UlrikStridbæk, VP, Head of Regulatory Affairs, ØrstedWind Power.
But he wants to see clarity and transparency which would be helpful for developers.
“Off shore wind power is the shooting star in the renewable energy sector and it is competing with conventional technologies and driving cost reduction,” he said.
Mr Rajnish Sharma, Technology Director, Wind & Low Carbon Solutions, Equinor observed: “there is a lot of drive in corporate India combined with passion and yes-we-can-do mentality. However, it is also important to have a realistic timeline.”
“Developers need to collaborate and bring synergy. We also need to think of storage,” said Raj Gopal, Principal Secretary-Energy and Petrochemical Department of Gujarat state.
He pointed out that the on-shore wind sites are getting saturated and the advantages of off-shore energy are evident.
The global industry views were presented at the 2nd Global RE-INVEST India-ISA Partnership Renewable Energy Investors Meet & Expo at Greater Noida on 3 October 2018. fiinews.com
