Offshore wind energy status, challenges, opportunities, environmental impacts, occupational health, and safety management in India

Abstract

Offshore wind is at its infancy in terms of technology and capacities in India. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) announced medium and long term offshore targets of 5 GW and 30 GW by 2022 and 2030, respectively. The location of the first offshore wind park has recently been identified, and the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has signed a contract with the Government of Gujarat to establish the 1000 MW of offshore wind energy capacity by 2019. To achieve the ambitious targets, India will require demand and resources planning, and policy support at an unprecedented scale. The MNRE notified the country’s offshore wind energy policy in 2015, and draft offshore wind energy lease rules in 2019. In this paper, several offshore wind energy challenges have been identified, and a clear policy road map and effective support schemes required to trigger offshore wind development activity for medium to long term are suggested. The environmental consequences of European offshore wind farms are assessed to optimize future monitoring of offshore wind programmes in India. Furthermore, the occupational health and safety management requirements are highlighted to ensure that the accidents, vulnerabilities, and hazards are avoided. The research and development (R&D) considerations are provided to assist policymakers, potential investors, stakeholders, designers and manufacturers, contractors, professional advisers, and wind farm developers in their decisions and planning.