National Offshore Wind Energy Policy

The National Offshore Wind Energy Policy was released by the Indian government in 2015. The strategy aims to alter the country's relatively underdeveloped offshore wind energy sector. India currently lacks any operational offshore wind energy facilities despite having a 7,600-kilometer coastline and the ability to generate 140 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2050.

What does Exactly National Offshore Wind Energy Policy?

The National Offshore Wind Energy Policy, 2015, was approved by the Cabinet on September 9th, 2015, with the goal of promoting and rewarding the growth of offshore wind energy. On October 1, 2015, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy made the policy accessible to the public for evaluation. The policy is now in effect as of the publication date in the Official Gazette.

Objective of National Offshore Wind Energy Policy

National Offshore Wind Energy Policy has some objectives −

• Investigating and advocating for the installation of offshore wind farms in India's Exclusive Economic Zone.

• Promoting financial commitment to energy infrastructure.

• Encouraging the spatial planning and management of marine renewable energy resources within India's Exclusive Economic Zone energy security being attained.

• Lowering carbon dioxide emissions.

• Improving offshore wind energy technology domestication.

• Generating skilled labor and jobs in the offshore wind industry.

• Facilitating the growth of the offshore wind industry's project EPC and operation and maintenance sectors.

• Establishing a supply chain and coastal infrastructure to support operations and maintenance, as well as large-scale fabrication and building projects.

Development of National Offshore Wind Energy Policy (NOWEP)

The key components of a policy for the development of offshore wind farms will be −

• Preliminary resource evaluations, as well as bathymetric and oceanographic research for block demarcation.

• Studies on navigation, undersea mining and associated exploration and exploitation activities, and other sea users are included in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of proposed offshore wind farms in terms of aquatic life, fishing, and other sea users.

• The costs of specialized foundations and ships, as well as the costs of operation and maintenance, will be determined through detailed research and surveys.

• Leasing arrangement for a seabed

• Statutory clearances and NOCs

• Grid Integration and Power Removal (both onshore and offshore) incentives for technology.

• Secure offshore installations are required, and data produced during

Advantages of National Offshore Wind Energy Policy

There are some advantages of this policy as given below −

• Clean and renewable energy source (non-polluting and unlimited).

Wind can produce up to twice as much electricity at sea as it can on land since the wind blows more forcefully there.

• Offshore wind energy installations also operate more quietly and with less visual impact than their onshore equivalents.

• Wind turbines with unit powers of about 10–15 MW are practical, but the greatest unit power on land is roughly 5 MW because it is simpler to transport the turbine parts required to create a wind farm offshore.

• The development of offshore wind energy is most advanced in the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Germany, with Belgium, China, the Netherlands, and Sweden following.

Conclusion

In order to achieve the goal of development, the policy will serve as an example for other developing countries to work on utilizing renewable resources rather than non-renewable resources. In order to combat pollution, this strategy will support offshore wind energy facilities. This piece of law is a masterpiece. In the not-too-distant future, it will bear fruit. This approach shows that India is prepared for the green revolution. India is more concerned with "sustainable development" than it is with growth.

FAQs

Q1. When was the national offshore wind energy policy notified?

Ans. India is fortunate to have a 7600-kilometer coastline that is bordered by water on three sides and has high chances of utilizing offshore wind energy. As per the Gazette Notification dated October 6, 2015, the government had announced the "National Offshore Wind Energy Policy" in light of this.

Q2. What is India's target for offshore wind energy by 2022?

Ans. The government has stated its plan to develop 5 GW of offshore wind installations by 2022 and 30 GW by 2030 in order to fully use the potential and maintain the trend of declining worldwide tariffs.

Q3. Does India have offshore wind farms?

Ans. There are no operational offshore wind energy facilities in India right now. This is true despite a 7,600-kilometer coastline and the potential for 140 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2050. 71 GW are shared between Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.

Q4. Why do we need offshore wind energy?

Ans. Offshore, wind speeds mean more energy can be created. Offshore wind speeds are generally more consistent than on land. A more consistent wind supply provides a more dependable source of energy. Many coastal places require a lot of electricity.