India Issues Draft Offshore Wind Lease Rules

India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued draft offshore wind energy lease rules for the development of projects within the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The draft rules are open to comments and suggestions until 25 February, MNRE said.

The rules stipulate that the offshore wind energy blocks are to be allocated to successful bidders through international competitive bidding only and the lease fees are to be collected by the designated nodal agency, i.e. the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE).

The lease blocks will be situated up to 200 nautical miles offshore and within India’s EEZ.

The terms of a lease shall in the first instance be valid for a period of five years for prospecting and 30
years for the establishment of an offshore wind power project. The terms may be extended by five years at a time with due approval of Government of India.

The area covered under a lease shall ordinarily cover between 100 and 500 square kilometres, depending on the size of an offshore wind farm.

All activities related to the development of a project, including the assessment of offshore wind energy
potential through related studies and surveys, will be undertaken only once the lease is secured.

India is currently preparing to tender a 1GW offshore wind project, the country’s first venture into commercial offshore wind. Thirty-five companies and consortia have responded to the call for expressions of interest to develop the project offshore Gujarat.