The conceptual plan provides substantial inputs to the current stakeholder dialogue on the recently released draft tender document from the Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. The joint study was presented at a high-level event in Chennai, India, on 23 November 2022 as an activity under the Centre of Excellence for Offshore Wind and Renewable Energy, a joint initiative between The Danish Energy Agency (DEA) and The Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). It highlights the rough and fine screening process as well as a conceptual build plan for the selected zones off the coast of Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, and is based on Denmark’s approach to maritime spatial planning for offshore wind. The plan provides substantial inputs to the current stakeholder dialogue on the recently released draft tender document from MNRE.

Moreover, the two parties presented a viability assessment of existing port infrastructure in proximity to  the coasts off the two states including recommendations for upgrades and development. The projects provide  significant input to the undergoing stakeholder consultation on the draft tender document for the first offshore wind parks in India, released by MNRE on 14 November 2022. This includes further details on the exact locations of the first 4 GW in Tamil Nadu that MNRE have taken into consideration as part of the comprehensive stakeholder inputs.

Dinesh Jagdale, Joint Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy:

“The joint projects on maritime spatial planning and port infrastructure have provided significant  inputs for the draft tender document that is currently under stakeholder consultation as well as the upcoming tenders for offshore wind in India. The Danish approach and experience has been very helpful to advance this and has brought great value to take us forward and reach 30 GW by 2030.”

The joint studies have been developed under the Centre  of Excellence for Offshore Wind and Renewable Energy. The centre is a joint initiative between the Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the Danish Energy Agency aiming to support India’s ambitious target of 30 GW offshore wind in 2030.
Freddy Svane, Ambassador of Denmark to India:

“The India-Danish collaboration on energy has taken remarkable steps and is a key contributor to the Green Strategic Partnership between India and Denmark. Offshore wind will be the next step in India’s green transition and with a clear and strong mandate from our two countries, India and Denmark are leading this green energy transition together.”

The port infrastructure study focuses on assessment of the viability of existing ports in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu to support up to 30 GW of offshore wind development using 15+ MW wind turbines. Based on the assessment, the project also identifies possibilities for upgrade/development of port facilities.

Clear pipeline for India’s first offshore wind parks based on Danish experiences The conceptual build-out plan proposes identification of 14 sites in Tamil Nadu (southeast India) and 1 site in Gujarat (northwest India) corresponding to the planned upcoming auctions announced in the Strategy Paper for Offshore
Wind, released by Government of India in July 2022. Moreover, the report puts forward four initial sites in Tamil Nadu for the first auction of 4 GW equivalent seabed in 2022-2023 for leasing to carry out required studies and surveys, and subsequent project development under an open access model (under model-3 of the strategy paper).

Adopting a relatively high capacity density would allow for up to 25 GW across the identified areas in Tamil Nadu alone. This provides a clear pipeline and contribution to the 30 GW government target for offshore wind in 2030. In addition to spatial planning, the necessary infrastructure also needs to be in place to secure the large quantities of offshore wind. In this regard, a dedicated port infrastructure study identifies a set of ports off the Tamil Nadu and Gujarat coasts that fulfil basic navigation and access criteria to support installation of wind turbines and foundations. However, these ports require significant upgrades in key infrastructure such as quaysides and yards, which are necessary for the marshalling of wind turbine components. Therefore, a set of development alternatives are proposed for each port.