India-UK Launch Offshore Wind Taskforce to Accelerate Deployment and Strengthen Supply Chains

India and the United Kingdom have formally launched a joint Offshore Wind Taskforce aimed at accelerating project execution, strengthening supply chains, and addressing structural barriers in India’s emerging offshore wind sector.

Speaking at the launch, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi described the initiative as a practical collaboration platform designed to move beyond dialogue and deliver measurable progress. The event was attended by UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and British High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron.

Focus on Implementation Under Vision 2035

Positioned under the India–UK Vision 2035 framework and the Fourth Energy Dialogue, the Taskforce is intended to provide coordinated leadership for offshore wind development in India. The platform is expected to align policy, industry, and financing stakeholders while translating international experience into locally relevant execution strategies.

The Minister noted that the UK’s experience in scaling offshore wind and building mature supply chains complements India’s growing demand for clean energy and its large-scale deployment potential.

Collaboration Priorities: Market Design, Infrastructure and Finance

The Taskforce will prioritise three areas considered critical to early offshore wind deployment. These include refining market design through clearer seabed leasing frameworks and revenue visibility mechanisms for developers.

Infrastructure development forms the second pillar, with emphasis on modernising ports, strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities, and enabling specialised marine logistics required for offshore wind installation and maintenance.

The third area focuses on financial structures and risk allocation, including blended finance approaches and mobilisation of long-term institutional capital to improve project viability.

Early Project Pipeline and Policy Support

India has identified promising offshore wind zones along the Gujarat and Tamil Nadu coastlines, with preliminary studies, surveys, and grid planning undertaken through the National Institute of Wind Energy to support initial project rollout.

To facilitate early deployment, the government has introduced a Viability Gap Funding scheme with a total allocation of ₹7,453 crore. The Minister highlighted that offshore wind development involves complex technical, regulatory, and commercial considerations, including specialised infrastructure, marine logistics planning, and bankable contracting frameworks.

Strategic Link with Green Hydrogen Expansion

The government also views offshore wind as a key enabler for coastal industrial clusters and green hydrogen production. India is currently leading the Hydrogen Breakthrough Goal under the global Breakthrough Agenda and has achieved competitive pricing benchmarks through the National Green Hydrogen Mission.

According to the Minister, declining green hydrogen and green ammonia costs strengthen the case for integrating offshore wind as a reliable source of high-quality renewable power for emerging industrial demand.

Growing Renewable Capacity Sets Context

The announcement comes as India’s non-fossil fuel installed capacity has crossed 272 GW, including more than 140 GW of solar and around 55 GW of wind capacity. Renewable additions during the ongoing financial year include over 35 GW of solar and 4.61 GW of wind installations, signalling continued expansion of the country’s clean energy portfolio.