Wind energy production up 36% in 2004: InWEA

India has emerged the fifth largest producer of wind energy in the world.

Indian Wind Energy Association (InWEA), the industry association focused on wind power development in the country, said that wind energy is fast emerging as an economically viable option to meet the current energy deficit in the country.

In a press release, the association said with an installed capacity of over 3,000 mw as of December 2004, wind energy production has reported a 36 per cent increase in 2004. With this increase, wind energy accounts for approximately three per cent of the overall installed capacity in the power sector.

In future, the sector has the potential of emerging as a technologically advanced and economically viable source of electricity on a large scale thus contributing significantly to the national grid.

Ajay Mathur, a member of the governing council of the InWEA, said in the release, "for this, the sector required continued support from the government in the short term."

According to InWEA data, with the gross land-based potential of 65,000 mw, the existing wind power projects have already fed about 14 billion units of electricity to various state grids.

India now has indigenous wind energy equipment manufacturing capacity in excess of 1,000 mw per annum. Wind technology has evolved significantly over the years and the predominant machine size in the market has increased from 55 kw in 1985 to 1 mw in 2004.

Increasing recognition of the potential of the sector has led to the identification of more than 200 sites suitable for harnessing wind power, with wind speed having been measured at nearly 600 sites in the country.

Mathur said in the release, "the process is already on with various incentives, accelerated depreciation, preferential tariff and wheeling and banking arrangements. The progress in power sector reforms and implementation of the 'Electricity Act 2003' are all steps in this direction, but further streamlining and review of the existing support from the government is required".

InWEA, he added, is in the process of talking to all the concerned parties and developing a consensus on what certain recommendations to the government could be, that would not only encourage and facilitate further growth of the sector, but also make it more attractive to serious players who may be interested in generating electricity from wind farms.

Wind power is a significant source of energy in many parts of the world and is viewed as being capable of supplying 10 per cent of the world's electricity within two decades.

As the cheapest source of electricity in the long run with least environmental impact, wind energy can contribute positively to the national energy security. The projects have very low gestation period, are modular in nature and easily expandable, making it a viable option.

Furthermore, he explains that with the right impetus, in addition to contributing to the country's energy requirements, India will also be in a position to establish itself as a major exporter of goods and services worldwide, thereby adding to the country's forex earnings.