Karnataka tops country in wind power capacity addition in 2024
Karnataka increased its wind power capacity by 1,331.48 megawatts (MW), securing the State first place in the country for its wind power capacity addition in the financial year (FY) 2024 – 25. This was announced during the Global Wind Day 2025 celebrations themed 'Pawan-Urja: Powering the Future of India', held in Bengaluru on Sunday.
The State's installed wind power capacity is now more than the combined capacity of countries like South Africa, Portugal, and New Zealand, and is comparable to that of Sweden and Australia, claimed the officials of the Energy Department.
Karnataka was followed by Tamil Nadu, which added 1,136.37 MW, and Gujarat, which added 954.76 MW during the FY.
'This is not just a number—it is a reflection of Karnataka's unwavering commitment to clean energy,' said K.J. George, Energy Minister of Karnataka.
'Karnataka's total installed wind power capacity now stands at 7,351 MW and is a testament to its consistent leadership in renewable energy. This achievement is symbolic of our ability to execute large-scale projects and provide clean energy to industries, farmers, and households,' the Minister added.
The State is preparing to implement 17 gigawatts (GW) of wind power projects, with over 5 GW planned under the Renewable Energy Cluster Programme. 'Infrastructure is being strengthened through the establishment of more than 20 substations, 400 KV corridors, and a Renewable Energy Reserve Zone,' Mr. George said.
Gaurav Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary, Energy Department, emphasised the importance of collaboration between implementing agencies and the local communities for the success of the projects.
'Essentially, we are going to areas where residents have been living for hundreds of years and putting up our solar or wind generation devices there. That is why we need to have a lot of local connections with society to deal with local opposition regarding land or the right of way. Wherever we have seen good advancements, it is because agencies have taken up collaborative exercises with society,' Mr. Gupta said.
National wind capacity enhancement
As the fourth largest wind power generator in the world, India currently has an installed wind capacity of 51.5 GW. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) plans to increase this to 100 GW in the next few years.
'The national goal is to reach 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030, including 100 GW from wind power, of which 30 GW will come from offshore sources. Additionally, India exported 3.5 to 4 GW worth of wind turbines and modules in the current financial year,' noted Prahlad Joshi, Union Minister of MNRE.
Speaking about the challenges that lie ahead, Mr. Joshi said, 'We must ensure 24x7 power supply and grid stability through integration of wind, solar, and pumped storage systems. Also, prioritise competitive electricity tariffs and focus on domestic manufacturing and exports to build India's green energy economy.'
'Ramping Up Local Manufacturing for Wind Turbines in India', a report which outlines a roadmap for boosting domestic wind turbine manufacturing capabilities was also released by Mr. Joshi during the event. The report notes that India must maintain an annual installation rate of 10 GW over the next five years to achieve its goal of 100 GW installed wind capacity by 2030.
'Several factors supporting this growth trajectory are strong performance in utility-scale auctions, rising demand from commercial and industrial (C&I) consumers, and clear policy momentum toward hybrid and dispatchable renewable power solutions,' the report said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
9 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Karnataka leads country in adding wind power capacity
BENGALURU: Karnataka has topped the country in wind power capacity addition for 2024-25, adding 1,331.48 MW — the highest among all states. The achievement was recognised at the Global Wind Day 2025 celebrations, held under the theme 'Pawan-Urja: Powering the Future of India'. Tamil Nadu and Gujarat followed, with additions of 1,136.37 MW and 954.76 MW, respectively. Energy Minister KJ George, who received the award from Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi, mentioned that Karnataka's total installed wind power capacity has now reached 7,351 MW and that the state has a commitment to the national goal of 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030, including 100 GW from wind. Joshi said, 'As a proud Kannadiga, it's meaningful to celebrate Global Wind Day in Karnataka — the land of Hanuman, the original symbol of wind power. Just as he embodied the power of the wind, we are now capturing it through modern offshore turbines.' Highlighting India's growing capabilities, Joshi said, 'In 2014, our solar manufacturing capacity was just 2-3 GW. Today, we manufacture 90 GW worth of modules. The same is happening in wind – nacelles, gearboxes, turbines – all are now being made in India.' He added that domestic manufacturing of high-end electronics like mobile phones, including Apple devices, has risen significantly because of government policy. 'Today, 97% of Apple phones exported to the US in March and April came from India,' he noted. The minister identified three key challenges - ensuring 24x7 power and grid stability through integration of wind, solar, and pumped storage, offering competitive power tariffs and boosting domestic manufacturing to position India as a global leader in green energy. Joshi also released a report titled 'Ramping Up Local Manufacturing for Wind Turbines in India', which outlines a strategy to strengthen India's wind turbine manufacturing ecosystem.
Hans India
10 hours ago
- Hans India
Wind energy at centre of our strategy for renewable energy sector
Bengaluru: On the occasion of Global Wind Day 2025, Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi addressed a conference of stakeholders in Bengaluru on Sunday and said that Wind Energy is at the centre of India's strategy for the renewable energy sector. Joshi said that India needs energy to become a global manufacturing hub, whether it is solar, wind, or other forms. India has achieved 51.5 GW wind capacity, 150 per cent growth in a decade and is now exporting turbines and components globally, Minister Joshi said. 'We are moving steadily towards the 100 GW wind target by 2030, including 30 GW from offshore projects, backed by strong policy reforms and a robust manufacturing ecosystem,' he added. Union Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy Shripad Yesso Naik and the Energy Minister in the Government of Karnataka, KG George, were also present on this occasion. 'Our national goals are ambitious and clear: 50 per cent of our power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030, and a net-zero India by 2070. Wind energy is central to achieving these goals. Wind energy is not a component of our renewable energy strategy, but it is at the heart of it and at the centre of Atma Nirbhar Bharat,' said the Minister. Underlining the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Joshi said, 'Narendra Modi gave us a vision to have 'renewable energy for manufacturing and conventional energy for household consumption'. 'India's manufacturing capacity is increasing, and it will continue to increase. PM's vision stresses upon the importance of renewable energy production, storage and usage, so that once India becomes a global manufacturing hub in near future, it should be able to fulfill the energy demands of the manufacturing sector through renewable energy sources, said the Minister. India has the huge potential in the renewable energy sector as it has globally the fourth largest wind power installed capacity and iis third largest renewable energy producer. 'No one had thought that India would become the third largest manufacturer of renewable energy in 10 years, but today it is a reality,' said the Minister. The Minister underlined the 3 key issues for the Wind Energy sector saying, 'First, we must combine wind with solar and storage (BESS) to deliver round-the-clock power and grid stability. Second, tariffs must be competitive. A rate of Rs 3.90 per unit is too high; we must work together to reduce costs. Third, domestic manufacturing must become more efficient, not just to meet our own targets, but to boost exports. 'Underlining the dedicated efforts from the Centre to unleash the potential of the renewable energy sector, Joshi said, 'The Government is backing this sector with full seriousness. This year's renewable energy budget has gone up by 53 per cent, to Rs 26,549 crore, with a large share directed to wind.' 'The transition to renewables is inevitable. States must lead this transition. Land availability and transmission delays have to be overcome. This is not the time for hesitation, it is the time for execution,' the Minister added. The Minister said, ' I am happy to note that India is manufacturing wind turbines ranging from 225 kW to 5.2 MW, with 33 models being produced by 14 companies. These turbines meet our domestic needs and are also cost-competitive globally.' The Minister further added that to fully unlock national wind potential, a coordinated national push is needed. 'That is why we are focusing on 5 priorities: Expanding into new states like Madhya Pradesh,Telangana, and Odisha; Launching the offshore sector with 4 GW of leasing areas identified in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu and tenders being readied; integrating wind into round-the-clock and firm green power strategies, through storage-linked business models; modernising the grid, investing in AI-based forecasting to manage variable renewable energy; and boosting local manufacturing across the entire wind value chain,' he said. Union Minister Joshi also released reports on Wind Energy Roadmap and Manufacturing Roadmap at the event. He said that the documents will serve as guiding frameworks for our journey ahead and reflect our collective ambition, strategic thinking, and commitment to building a strong and Aatmanirbhar wind energy ecosystem in India. Best performing States in terms of Wind Capacity addition were also felicitated at the event. Karnataka was first with a wind capacity addition of 1331.48 MW followed by Tamil Nadu (1136.37 MW) and Gujarat (954.76 MW).India meets a sizable portion of its energy needs through fossil fuels, and various renewable energy sources, including wind energy, are seen as an avenue to reduce dependence on conventional sources of power. Green energy for climate mitigation is not just a focus area for India; it has gained momentum globally. At COP26 held in 2021, India committed to an ambitious five-part 'Panchamrit' pledge. They included reaching 500 GW of non-fossil electricity capacity, generating half of all energy requirements from renewables, and reducing emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030. India as a whole also aims to reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 45 per cent. Finally, India commits to net-zero emissions by 2070.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
Karnataka placed first in country for highest wind power capacity
Karnataka was awarded first place in the country for achieving the highest wind power capacity addition of 1,331.48 MW in the financial year 2024-25. State Energy Minister K J George received the award from Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, during the Global Wind Day 2025 celebrations themed 'Pawan-Urja: Powering the Future of India', held in Bengaluru on Sunday. Tamil Nadu and Gujarat followed Karnataka, adding 1,136.37 MW and 954.76 MW respectively, said a statement issued by the office of Minister George. "This is not just a number-it is a reflection of Karnataka's unwavering commitment to clean energy," George said after receiving the award. He said the proactive policies, implementation capabilities, and vision have positioned Karnataka as a leader in the renewable energy landscape. The addition of 1,331 MW in a single year demonstrates the state's momentum in harnessing wind energy for a sustainable future, he explained. According to him, Karnataka's total installed wind power capacity now stands at 7,351 MW and is a testament to its consistent leadership in renewable energy. "This achievement is symbolic of our ability to execute large-scale projects and provide clean energy to industries, farmers, and households," the minister added. George reaffirmed Karnataka's support of the national target of 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030, of which 100 GW is projected from wind energy. "Karnataka is preparing to implement 17 GW of wind power projects, with over 5 GW planned under the Renewable Energy Cluster Programme. Infrastructure is being strengthened through the establishment of more than 20 substations, 400 KV corridors, and a Renewable Energy Reserve Zone," he told the gathering. George said that at the 2025 Global Investors Meet, the state signed Rs four lakh crore worth of investment agreements for renewable energy-nearly 40 per cent of the state's total investments, further demonstrating the confidence of global and domestic investors in Karnataka's green energy vision. Speaking on the occasion, Joshi said he found it especially meaningful to celebrate Global Wind Day in Karnataka-the land of Hanuman, the original symbol of wind power. Joshi was referring to the belief that Hampi in Karnataka was the ancient Kishkindha, the monkey kingdom of Ramayana era, where Hanuman was born. The union minister underlined India's global standing as the fourth-largest wind power generator, with an installed capacity of 51.5 GW. "The national goal is to reach 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030, including 100 GW from wind power, of which 30 GW will come from offshore sources. Additionally, India exported 3.5 to 4 GW worth of wind turbines and modules in the current financial year," Joshi pointed out. He also emphasised on the key challenges ahead, which are ensuring 24x7 power supply and grid stability through integration of wind, solar, and pumped storage systems. Joshi also stressed upon prioritising competitive electricity tariffs and focusing on domestic manufacturing and exports to build India's green energy economy. On the occasion, the union minister released the report 'Ramping up local manufacturing for wind turbines in India', which outlines a roadmap for boosting domestic wind turbine manufacturing capabilities. Karnataka Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta told the audience that the state's installed wind power capacity now surpasses the combined capacity of countries like South Africa, Portugal, and New Zealand, and is comparable to that of Sweden and Australia.
