The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) organized the ‘Global Wind Day’ on June 15, 2024, to commemorate India’s achievements in the wind energy sector and explore avenues for its further growth. Themed “Pawan–Urja: Powering India’s Future,” the event featured insightful panel discussions on the pivotal roles of wind energy, including meeting power demand, accelerating onshore adoption, and bolstering offshore wind development for enhanced energy security.
Minister of State for New & Renewable Energy and Power, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, emphasized collective action to achieve renewable energy targets, positioning India as a global leader in wind energy. He commended Gujarat, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu for their exemplary contributions to the country’s wind capacity expansion during FY 2023-24.
Shri Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, Secretary of MNRE, highlighted the sector’s achievements over the past year and encouraged stakeholders to collaborate towards both short-term milestones and long-term sustainability goals. He stressed the importance of integrating solar and wind energy to ensure a reliable grid and achieve India’s ambitious targets of 500 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2070.
With over four decades of wind energy generation history, India has amassed a cumulative installed wind power capacity of 46.4 GW by May 2024, solidifying its position as the world’s fourth-largest producer. Discussions at the event centred on unlocking production potential, overcoming challenges, and charting a feasible path forward to enhance wind energy generation—a critical component in meeting India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
The event hosted three engaging panel discussions, featuring active participation from central and state government officials, industry leaders, academia, and think tanks:
- Role of Wind Energy in Meeting Power Demand: Insights were shared on the current and future roles of wind energy in addressing India’s growing power needs.
- Accelerating Onshore Wind Energy Adoption: Strategies were explored to accelerate the adoption of onshore wind energy across India.
- Offshore Wind Development: Discussions focused on enhancing India’s energy security through the development of offshore wind projects.
The success of ‘Global Wind Day 2024’ was made possible through collaboration with the Ministry, Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation (SSEF), Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association (IWTMA), Indian Wind Power Association (IWPA), Wind Independent Power Producers Association (WIPPA), and Solar Power Developers Association (SPDA).
This initiative underscores India’s commitment to leveraging renewable energy sources for sustainable development, paving the way towards a cleaner and brighter future for the nation and the world.
