Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament of India, was informed on December 10 that Rameshwaram, Kanyakumari, Maharashtra, Kerala-Konkan and Gujarat are the identified sites for development of offshore wind in India, The Hindu Business Line writes.
After the establishment of Offshore Wind Energy Steering Committee, a sub-committee was set up, which submitted the report on the designated sites to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in September.
The report also recommended establishment of a National Offshore Wind Authority for giving licences for offshore wind farms on lines of the oil and gas exploration licensing, Minister Farooq Abdullahis cited by The Hindu Business Line as saying.
He said that the MNRE is examining a project suggested by Suzlon and that they are collaborating with Denmark, England and Germany, which have experience in offshore wind development.
However, India still needs to work on its power generation policy and some other issues in order to exploit its vast offshore wind resources.
“Apart from the presence of a policy, the implementation of offshore wind energy projects also depends upon firming of the wind resource, oceanographic studies, environmental impact assessment and various clearance required for such projects,” Minister Abdullah explained.
[mappress]
Offshore WIND Staff, December 11, 2012