Global Wind Day

Facts for Prelims

Global Wind Day

News: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has joined the worldwide celebrations of 15th June as Global Wind Day through the organization of a day-long event in New Delhi.

Key Highlights:
• Rajasthan was felicitated for achieving the highest wind capacity addition, Gujarat for achieving the highest wind capacity addition through open access and Tamil Nadu for initiating the repowering of wind turbines.
• Launch of Wind Atlas at 150 meters above ground level, prepared by National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE, HQ: Chennai)
• The onshore wind potential of the country is now estimated at 1,164 GW at 150 meters above ground level.
• Theme – Pawan-Urja: Powering the Future of India

Important facts:
• Wind energy is crucial to India’s efforts to achieve its goal of having 50% of its electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030 and to achieve Net Zero by 2070.
• India ranks fourth in wind power capacity in the world.
• India currently has 4 GW of prospective projects in wind energy.
• India has a potential of about 60 GW of wind.
• Tamil Nadu is the largest producer of wind energy followed by Gujarat and Karnataka.
• Government Initiatives - National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy (2018) and National Offshore wind energy policy (2015)