'Excellent wind resources' | RWE and Tata team up for Indian offshore push

RWE and the renewables unit of Indian industrial conglomerate Tata Group have teamed up to explore the potential of joint offshore wind projects in India, as the nation's government gears up for first auctions off the states of Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.

The German utility and Tata Power Renewable Energy signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to initially conduct technical and commercial site assessments.

In addition, the companies are looking into an evaluation of the Indian offshore wind supply chain and supporting infrastructure, such as ports and grid connections, to identify the local strengths as well as necessary development potential.

“India has excellent wind resources, which can help to meet the country’s increasing energy demands,” RWE Renewables offshore wind chief executive Sven Utermöhlen said.

“If clear regulations and an effective tender scheme are in place, we expect India’s offshore wind industry will gain a real momentum. RWE wants to be part of this development.”

India has no offshore wind turbines in the water yet, despite its 7,600-kilometre coastline and a 30GW offshore wind target by 2030.

The Indian government is in the process of conducting detailed technical studies and devising the regulatory framework to establish the first auctions for offshore wind of the coast of Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.

Tata Power Renewable Energy is a unit of Tata Power, one of India’s largest integrated power companies, and part of the Mumbai-headquartered Tata Group, one of India’s largest multinational conglomerates that is in businesses such as aviation, car making, chemicals or steel.

Tata Power Renewable Energy has a 4.9GW development portfolio out of which 1.85GW is under implementation. RWE by 2030 targets to boost its pro-rata global offshore wind capacity from 2.4GW to 8GW.

“RWE is our ideal partner to support Tata Power’s plans to enhance and grow offshore wind business based on its global expertise in running and operating offshore wind projects,” Tata Power CEO Praveer Sinha said.

“In view of the Indian Government's heightened focus on offshore wind farms to address the country's expanding electricity demands, the collaboration becomes even more significant.”