Offshore Wind Push Faces Cost Hurdles Despite Site Data Readiness
What Happened
The government has completed key wind, geotechnical and geophysical studies for offshore wind projects and identified potential sites off the coasts of Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. However, officials say progress remains slow because offshore wind is still a relatively new and expensive technology for India, with limited domestic expertise and infrastructure. Offshore wind projects require about ₹25 crore per MW, compared with roughly ₹6-8 crore per MW for onshore wind.
Key Takeaways
India has largely resolved the resource-assessment challenge for offshore wind, but the economics remain difficult. Until technology costs fall and developer interest improves, offshore wind is likely to remain costlier than solar and onshore wind, potentially slowing its large-scale adoption despite its strong clean-energy potential.