India invites bids for 4 GW offshore wind energy

 Open access projects off Tamil Nadu coast to leverage high CUF and 15 MW turbines.

The Government of India has recently issued invitations for bids aimed at developing offshore wind energy, with a total capacity of 4 GW. ThAese bids are specifically for four blocks, each with a capacity of 1 GW, on an open access basis. The objective is to facilitate the development of offshore wind power projects off the coast of Tamil Nadu through international competitive bidding. Successful bidders for each block will be responsible for establishing 1 GW of offshore wind energy capacity and directly selling electricity to consumers under the open access regime. Notably, no Viability Gap Funding (VGF) will be provided under these open access bids, and the renewable energy generated will be marketed to entities, such as industries, currently subject to high tariff rates.
The advantages of offshore wind energy are numerous. Firstly, it eliminates the constraints associated with the availability of land. Additionally, offshore wind projects boast higher Capacity Utilization Factors (CUFs), nearing almost 50 percent. Moreover, offshore wind turbines demonstrate greater efficiencies compared to their onshore counterparts, with each turbine boasting a capacity of 15 MW.
The bidding process for offshore wind energy projects is being overseen by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), a Government of India undertaking operating under the administrative jurisdiction of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. It’s worth noting that all necessary environmental clearances have been secured prior to the initiation of the bidding process.
India has already positioned itself as a global leader in renewable energy. This latest initiative marks a significant step forward in India’s renewable energy journey, propelling it into a new era of sustainability and environmental stewardship.