Recent developments have seen nine new countries, namely Belgium, Colombia, Germany, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, the UK, and the US, sign up for the Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA) at COP27. Additionally, Australia has announced its intention to join the global offshore wind alliance. This development is significant in the larger context of harnessing offshore wind energy and aiming for a net-zero emissions future.
About Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA)
The GOWA was established with the aim to escalate the utilization of offshore wind as a means to address the climate and energy security crises. It was founded by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Denmark, and the Global Wind Energy Council. Since its inception in 2005, the GWEC has served as a credible and authoritative forum for the entire wind energy sector at an international level. To limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and achieve net zero, both IRENA and the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimate that offshore wind capacity will need to exceed 2000 GW in 2050, a significant increase from just over 60 GW today.
Understanding Offshore Wind Energy
Wind energy presently comes in two forms: onshore and offshore wind farms. The latter refers to installations located in bodies of water that use sea winds to generate electricity. These farms can either use fixed-foundation turbines or floating wind turbines. While the former is built in shallow water, the latter, which is still in its nascent stage, is constructed in deeper waters with its foundation anchored in the seabed. For an offshore wind farm to be established, it must be at least 200 nautical miles from the shore and 50 feet deep in the ocean.
Current State of Wind Energy in India
As of March 2021, India’s wind-generated electricity reached a peak of 39.2 gigawatts (GW) annually. With a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 11.39% for wind generation and 8.78% for installed capacity from 2010 to 2020, an addition of another 20 GW is anticipated in the next five years. Most of the commercially exploitable resources, accounting for more than 95%, are located in seven key states: Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu.
Policy Overview on Wind Energy
Two important policies govern wind energy in India. The National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy, 2018 aims to promote large grid-connected wind-solar PV hybrid systems for optimal and efficient utilization of wind and solar resources, transmission infrastructure, and land. Meanwhile, the National Offshore Wind Energy Policy was announced in October 2015 with the objective to develop offshore wind energy along the Indian coastline of 7600 km within the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The Benefits of Offshore Wind Energy
Wind speeds over water bodies are not only high but also consistent in direction. This makes offshore wind farms more potent in generating electricity per installed capacity compared to their onshore counterparts. They also have a higher Capacity Utilisation Factor (CUF), enabling longer operational hours. Owing to the possibility of building bigger and taller turbines at sea, offshore wind energy harvests are significantly increased as the wind flow remains unrestricted by buildings or hills.
