On Achieving 5000 MW from wind power

An attempt is made in this paper to assess the feasibility of achieving 5,000 MW of wind power capacity by the end of the present decade, a target set for itself by Union Ministry of Energy. The present installed capacity is about 30MW. In order to achieve this 150-fold increase in installed capacity in the next ten years it is perhaps desirable that an assessment is made of the experience and the strategy. For doing so, some lessons from the Californian experience of commercially viable wind farms of over 1,400 MW are discussed to develop a background since this has preceded the Indian programme and is two orders of magnitude larger. Experience in Europe is also discussed with reference to the status of wind industry, wind resources, financial and legislative support. Some of these aspects have a direct relevance in the Indian context. The Indian experience is discussed in terms of machines imported and their indigenisation, indigenous development, wind resources of plains and high quality wind resources of hill sites, a tentative estimation of potential, and organisational and relevant policy aspects. It is concluded that the target is feasible but its achievement needs a programme of directed action including legislation to support small producers of power from decentralised sources, availability of financial packages to assist such producers, support to R&D including wind surveys on hill crests in several parts of the country to firm up the potential of least 5,000 MW, and speedy dissemination of data regarding wind resources as well as on performance of power generating units