2.8 GW Versus 9.3 GW- EMBER Report Points to Huge Gap In Wind Additions In India

The winds of change are blowing across India’s energy landscape. Over the past three years, annual wind installations have surged, but there’s a catch: the 2023 figures were a whopping 51% higher than in 2022, the latest report from EMBER said.

It also said that despite this growth, the current build rate of 2.8 GW falls far short of what’s needed to power India’s sustainable future. Following are some of the main takeaways from the recent report which talked about the Indian wind energy sector.

A Global Wind Symphony

Beyond India’s borders, the wind energy movement is gaining momentum. Twelve additional countries have set their sights on wind targets, although these goals are often based on modeling studies rather than formal policy documents. EMBER’s findings reveal that a staggering 70 countries have established wind energy targets, accounting for a whopping 99% of global wind capacity.

Winds of Change: Regional Perspectives

While Europe, the US, and Australia aim for a breezy 1,000 watts of wind capacity per person by 2030, most countries currently hover below 500 watts. The Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia are still untapped wind territories, and their potential is yet to be harnessed. Are they setting wind energy targets? The answer remains elusive.

India’s Wind Odyssey

India, the fourth-largest wind market worldwide, faces a critical challenge. The gap between forecasted and actual installations is the second-largest globally. To triple its capacity from 163 GW in 2022 to an ambitious 509 GW by 2030, India must ride the wind like never before.

Sailing Toward 2030

The National Electricity Plans chart the course: India needs to accelerate wind capacity additions from 42 GW in 2022 to a robust 110 GW by 2030. That’s a brisk 9.3 GW annually from 2024 onward. While the 51% surge in 2023 installations is promising, the current pace won’t suffice. We’re only halfway to our 2030 targets.