India turns to global alliances to accelerate wind power growth

Solar power is the largest source of renewable energy in India. In May 2026, India’s installed solar capacity reached 157 GW, accounting for almost 68% of the country’s renewable energy portfolio and about 29% of overall generation capacity. However, the government of India is of the view that wind energy will also play a vital role in the country's energy transition plan, according to a note published in mid-June.

Wind power projects can be a vital source of clean, locally produced electricity. India has significant onshore and offshore wind power potential, which can drive the sector's long-term growth. According to the government, wind power can also play an important role in balancing the electricity system, with almost half of the generation taking place during peak demand periods, complementing solar power and improving grid stability.

India is now working with the UK, Denmark and Belgium to advance the growth of the wind power sector.

In February this year, India and the UK unveiled the India–UK Offshore Wind Task Force under which the two countries will focus on market design, developing infrastructure and supply chains and finance.

Earlier this year, New Delhi and Brussels agreed to work together on offshore wind, research and development and green taxonomy. In May last year, India and Denmark renewed their bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was signed in 2019. The two parties plan to work on power system modelling, integration of variable renewable energy and joint expert training.

The government has zeroed in on some states that hold wind power potential. New Delhi is looking to expand wind deployment into emerging states such as Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha. It has also identified leasing areas in the states of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu to set up offshore wind projects.

The idea is to integrate wind power into Round-the-Clock (RTC) renewable energy solutions through storage-linked business models, upgrade the grid and use artificial intelligence (AI)-based forecasting models for the management of renewable energy sources. In order to minimise dependence on imports, the government also wants to strengthen domestic manufacturing across the entire wind energy value chain.

Huge potential

India holds significant wind power resources, with an estimated gross wind power potential of 695.5 GW at a hub height of 120 metres and 1,163.9 GW at 150 metres above ground level. A large part of this potential is located in eight resource-rich states. The leader of the pack is the desert state of Rajasthan with 284.2 GW of estimated potential at 150 metres. Next is Gujarat with a potential of 180.8 GW and Maharashtra with 173.9 GW stands in third place. Other important states are Karnataka, which has a potential of 169.3 GW, Andhra Pradesh with 123.3GW, Tamil Nadu with 95.1 GW, Madhya Pradesh with 55.4 GW and Telangana with 54.7 GW.

According to the government of India, more than 900 wind-monitoring stations have been set up in the country to undertake resource assessment and project development. Wind resource maps have also been established for hub heights of 50, 80, 100, 120 and 150 metres, to help identify high-potential sites that could hold potential for future investments.

India has set a goal of hitting 100 GW of installed wind capacity by the end of this decade and 156 GW by 2036. The country’s vast resources and the performance of the last decade provide the confidence needed to achieve this goal. The country’s installed capacity has jumped from 21.04 GW in March 2014 to 56.09 GW in March 2026, representing a growth of almost 2.7 times. About 28 GW of additional capacity is under development.

The financial year 2025-26 was the strongest year for the sector. Last fiscal saw new installations to the tune of 6.05 GW, surpassing the previous record of 4.15 GW achieved in fiscal 2024-25.

The domestic manufacturing has also recorded impressive growth. India's wind turbine manufacturing capacity has grown from 10 GW in 2014 to around 24 GW in March this year. The industry has achieved 70-80% localisation across major components and has developed robust domestic supply chains for blades, towers, gearboxes and other critical equipment, the government said.

Financial support

The government of India has also announced policies related to financial aspects to help focus on accelerating wind deployment, promoting offshore projects and modernising grid infrastructure. A viability gap funding of INR68.53bn has been sanctioned for 1,000 MW of offshore wind projects off the coasts of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. The government has also granted INR5bn under the Generation-Based Incentive scheme during 2025-26.

A 500-MW pilot project has also been unveiled under the Contracts for Difference mechanism, which is set up to provide better clarity when it comes to revenue for renewable energy developers. The government has set up a dedicated task force that is responsible for tackling regulatory issues, land acquisition, transmission and implementation challenges facing the sector.

The government also believes that additional measures, including a dedicated wind component under renewable purchase obligations, green energy open access rules, implementation of the approved list of models and manufacturers, transparent bidding guidelines and late payment surcharge rules have given a boost to investor confidence.