India’s renewable energy story is often told through the rapid rise of solar power. Gigawatts of capacity have been added year after year, tariffs have fallen sharply, and solar has become the default choice for new clean energy projects. Yet, quietly and somewhat in the background, wind energy has remained a powerful — and arguably underutilised — resource in India’s energy transition.
So the question is worth asking: is wind energy in India being fully leveraged, or is its true potential still untapped?
India’s Wind Energy Landscape: Strong Foundations
India is already one of the world’s leading wind power producers, with installed capacity approaching 50 GW. Wind farms are concentrated in states such as Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh — regions with proven wind regimes and decades of operating experience.
Resource assessments suggest that India’s onshore wind potential runs into several hundred gigawatts, especially when modern turbines with higher hub heights are considered. Offshore wind resources along the Gujarat and Tamil Nadu coasts add another significant, though largely undeveloped, opportunity.
From a resource and technology standpoint, India is not short on wind.
Why Wind Has Fallen Behind Solar
Despite this strong foundation, wind energy has not scaled at the same pace as solar in recent years. Several structural factors explain why.
1. Policy and Market Design
2. Grid and Evacuation Constraints
3. Land and Repowering Challenges
4. Perception of Variability
The Case for Wind as an Underutilised Asset
When viewed through a systems lens rather than a single-asset lens, wind energy’s value becomes clearer.
Complementarity with Solar
Solar produces during the day; wind often peaks in the evening, night, and monsoon months. Together, they reduce net variability and improve overall plant utilisation.
Hybrid and Firm Power Opportunities
Wind-solar-storage hybrids can deliver flatter generation profiles, making renewable energy more suitable for industrial consumers, distribution companies, and future green hydrogen production.
Cost and Domestic Manufacturing
Wind tariffs remain competitive, and India has a strong domestic wind manufacturing ecosystem. This reduces reliance on imports and supports long-term industrial development.
Untapped Offshore Potential
Offshore wind, while still expensive today, could play a major role in coastal states and future decarbonisation pathways as costs decline and policy clarity improves.
What’s Holding Wind Back — and How That Can Change
Wind energy in India is not underutilised due to lack of resource or technology, but because of system-level constraints. Unlocking its next phase of growth requires:
Better transmission planning aligned with renewable-rich zones
Clear long-term wind and hybrid procurement signals
Repowering frameworks for legacy wind farms
Advanced forecasting, storage, and energy management systems
A shift from capacity-centric thinking to value-centric energy design
This is where digital layers — forecasting, optimisation, and financial modelling — become just as important as turbines and towers.
So, Is Wind Energy Underutilised in India?
Yes — but not because it lacks potential.
Wind energy is underutilised because the market has historically prioritised speed and simplicity over system optimisation. As India moves toward higher renewable penetration, grid stability, firm power, and economic efficiency will matter more than ever.
In that future, wind will not be a secondary resource to solar — it will be a critical balancing asset.
The real opportunity lies not in choosing between wind and solar, but in designing intelligent energy systems where wind finally plays the role it is capable of.
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