India should ease tech equipment import rules to meet renewable energy target: LM Wind Power

The Denmark-based company has invested roughly 25 mn euros in its Gujarat facility

While the country has been attracting capex in renewable energy, the Indian government should ease rule for import of technology equipment in order to meet the 100 Gigawatt (Gw), said Denmark-based LM Wind Power that inaugurated its manufacturing facility at Halol near Vadodara in Gujarat.

Leading global wind turbine blade manufacturer, LM Wind Power has invested roughly 25 million euros or Rs 200 crore for the Gujarat facility, which is its second in the country.

"Government should make rules easy for import of new technology equipment in India. This will help the industry in many ways and also help match the target set by government in renewable energy," said Marc De Jong, chief executive officer of LM Wind Power.

According to Jong, global technology imports have brought down cost of wind power generation in India to Rs 5 per kilo watt from Rs 50 in past two decades.

LM Wind Power would be supply blades to wind projects in the northern part of India and beyond from its Gujarat facility. The production focuses on blades up to 60 meters in length with room for expansion.

"The Halol plant will cater demands from northern part of India. Moreover, we are aiming at exporting blades from here if and when demand arises," said Niraj Basaria, managing director for India, LM Wind Power.

The company currently operates a blade manufacturing facility in Dabaspet at Karnataka and a global technical centre for research, development and services in Bangalore. The company has approximately 1400 employees in India including 400 in Gujarat plant.

Currently LM Wind Power has installed capacity of 1.60 Gw in India and with the new plant in Gujarat it is expecting the same to rise to 2.50 Gw in next two or three years.