India - Wind power can meet quarter of India's energy needs by 2030

With proper incentives, wind power can meet over 24 percent of India's energy needs by 2030, says a study carried out by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and the Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association (IWTMA).

Releasing 'Indian Wind Energy Outlook 2009' here Wednesday evening, Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah said it was his dream to see windmills all over India the way one would see them in Europe.

'For this, public-private-partnership is the way to go,' Abdullah told a gathering of wind turbine manufacturers and industry experts. 'The ministry is ready to help you in every way, but I need energy at a cheaper rate.'

The study says wind power can supply 21.2-24.2 percent of the electricity India will need in 2030, if the industry gets all the encouragement it wants. In contrast to this 'advanced' scenario in the report, it says without any extra push, it will be able to supply 2.4-2.7 percent of India's energy needs in 2030.

The report says: 'India's tremendous wind energy resource has only been partially realised due to the lack of a coherent national renewable energy policy. Currently, the promotion of renewable energy in India is mainly driven by state governments, but inconsistent implementation and the lack of a national policy is hampering genuine progress...'

'To boost investment in renewable energy, it is essential to introduce clear, stable and long-term support policies,' it said.

IWTMA Chairman D.V. Giri urged the government to 'fast track proposals to introduce a national renewable energy policy to help the industry'.

For more information please contact Trevor Sievert at ts@windfair.net