Workshop addresses key issues on repowering of wind projects

Binit Das

As part of the United States India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) organized a national workshop on ‘Repowering of Wind Projects in India’ on November 7, 2022 at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

The SCEP is a component of the US-India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden at the Leaders’ Summit on Climate held in April 2021. As part of the SCEP, both India and the US are coordinating through multiple agencies and working with stakeholders to facilitate rapid clean energy transition in India, creating economic opportunities for both countries.

The workshop was attended by close to 50 participants from industry associations, stakeholders, OEM and government bodies---they all shared their perspectives on wind repowering and on the draft “National Repowering Policy for Wind Power Projects, 2022” published by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

On the occasion, Dinesh Jagdale, Joint Secretary, MNRE, spoke about the Ministry's recent policy to address challenges in repowering of wind projects.

Industry stakeholders such as WIPPA India, Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association, Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) India, India Wind Power Association and Suzlon Energy, highlighted the challenges and provided suggestions on implementation.

From the government side, representatives of the National Institute of Wind Energy, Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC), and Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) spoke about the enablers for repowering of wind projects in India.