India is all set to boost its renewable energy output through wind turbines. With 32.96 GW, India is the fourth largest installed wind power capacity in the world. The Spanish wind energy giant, Siemens Gamesa, successfully bagged a deal to build 300 MW wind farm, the largest order secured by the firm in India.
The deal was proposed by Sembcorp Energy India, the Indian energy subsidiary of the Singapore’s Sembcorp Industries. The operation and maintenance will also be provided by Siemens Gamesa for 10 years.
143 SG 2.1-122 turbines will be installed in Gujarat commissioned in April 2019. These turbines are specifically designed for Indian terrain. They are fine-tuned for low-speed sites. The power generated through the wind farm will be distributed in multiple states in India through India’s Interstate Transmission System.
“This contract marks a landmark in Siemens Gamesa’s strategy in India on account of both the size of the project and the technology selected. Moreover, it sends a very positive signal regarding the market’s momentum and shores up our confidence in its full recovery,” said Ramesh Kymal, CEO of Siemens Gamesa onshore division in India.
This is not the first time Siemens Gamesa is doing windy business in India. Since 2009, the wind energy giant has successfully passed 5,000 MW worth of installed wind capacity in India. It had 2 blade factories in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, one nacelle factory and one service center in Chennai.
The company stood firm even when the production of wind turbines dipped sharply a few years ago. According to Markus Tacke, global CEO of Siemens Gamesa, it has already invested a staggering amount of Rs 2,160 crore in India and intends to invest more as India is their main market after Spain.
In the fiscal year 2016-17, 3% of India’s total electricity generation is provided by wind power and India aims to double it. As world’s second most attractive renewable energy market, India aims to reach 60 GW of wind power by 2022, which doesn’t seem far off sight with the “Make In India” initiative.
The Indian Government has set a target of 175 GW renewable energy capacity by 2022 making it largest expansion in the world. The masterplan is often labeled as ambitious but the recent boom in solar and wind energy paints a highly sustainable picture.
A few years from now, India could be the world’s leading pioneer of sustainability. Let’s hope that the country dependent on coal for 76% of its energy production would be able to make clean energy a key player on the table. There’s definitely something in the wind!
Photo – Pixabay
Source – http://www.siemensgamesa.com/en/