India is blessed with abundant sources of renewable energy and by March 2019 about 77.6 GW RE based capacity has already been installed in the country along with 45.4 GW of large hydro capacity. Out of total RE capacity wind energy represents a significant share of renewable energy portfolio. Wind energy sector is more than two decades old with manufacturing more than 80% of the components under ‘Make in India’. Wind energy is also water smart electricity sources with the least water consumption. India is not only committed to refine and strengthen the business and regulatory framework governing wind power in India, but also to provide the necessary and reliable information on wind resources across the entire country.
Wind Turbine technology has evolved significantly over the last decade with emphasis on greater energy capture and improved capacity utilization factor. Modern turbines have larger rotor diameter and higher hub heights. Hence, it became necessary to identify areas which have wind potential at higher heights. Considering this and using advancements of mapping techniques, wind potential assessment of the country at 120m hub height was undertaken. Earlier, NIWE had prepared Indian Wind Atlas at 50m and indicative values at 80m hub heights with 5km resolution in April 2010. In 2015, mapping was revised by corroborating meso-scale derived wind maps and micro-scale measurements and the Indian Wind Potential Map at 100m agl was published.
The present 120m high potential assessment is carried out in similar lines at a spatial resolution of 500m, using the advanced meso-micro coupled numerical wind flow model with the corroboration from 406 actual measurement sites spread across the country. This indicative wind potential map at 120m agl is expected to serve as the basis for preliminary site assessment during the prospecting phase of wind project developments in the country. Further, the information will be useful for all stakeholders of the sector including the policy makers, private players, government agencies in their efforts towards achieving the country’s ambitious RE goals.
Key Features