Is India Ready To Welcome Its Largest Ever Wind Turbines?

Dongfang Electric Corporation, a Chinese wind turbine manufacturer, made waves in the global wind market this month by launching the world’s largest wind turbine, with a capacity of 26 MW. This massive turbine was specifically designed for a wind project near Fujian in China. Chinese manufacturers are widely recognized for producing some of the largest wind turbines in the world.

Last year, Minyang Smart Energy, another Chinese wind turbine maker, showcased its 22 MW turbine at Wind Power 2023. The company announced that these turbines are set for development between 2024 and 2025. Minyang had previously commissioned 16 MW offshore wind turbines of its MySE model in Fujian.

Globally, several other manufacturers have also introduced some of the world’s largest wind turbines. Among the leading players are Goldwind (16 MW), European company Vestas (15 MW), GE Wind Energy (14.7 MW), and Siemens Gamesa (14.7 MW). It’s common to see these large turbines deployed primarily in offshore wind projects.

For onshore wind turbines, the size tends to be smaller due to safety and other practical considerations. For instance, while offshore wind turbines can be massive, the largest onshore turbines are generally around 10 MW, such as those produced by China’s Envision Energy. Other manufacturers, like Enercon and Vestas, have developed onshore turbines above 7 MW.

However, on a commercial scale, many of the largest viable onshore wind turbines are in the 6 MW range. For example, Nordex offers 6.8 MW turbines, which have been installed in the Olsterwind wind farms in the Netherlands.

What do large wind turbines offer?

According to industry experts, large wind turbines can generate significantly more energy from the same location. For example, a 10 MW onshore wind turbine can produce far more electricity annually than a 2 MW turbine, resulting in higher profits for firms and a lower levelized cost of energy (LCOE). Additionally, these large turbines allow for optimal land and offshore area usage, contributing to increased clean energy production.

Where does India stand on large wind turbines?

Several countries, including India, are planning to increase their wind turbine capacities. This marks a shift from the early days of wind energy in India during the 1990s, when many of the country’s most productive regions were equipped with relatively inefficient turbines, ranging from 0.5 MW to 1.5 MW.

According to a 2023 report from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), approximately 1,606.3 MW of wind projects in India, spread across eight states, still operate with turbines below 0.5 MW. In contrast, a total of 8,276 MW comes from turbines in the 0.5-1 MW range.

While India has yet to embark on offshore wind projects, its onshore turbines are typically below 3 MW. However, with advancements in technology, larger turbines are being introduced in the Indian market by both local and global manufacturers.

For instance, Indian turbine maker Suzlon has been promoting its 3 MW series, receiving multiple orders from public and private entities. Another Indian manufacturer, Inox Wind, has announced plans to introduce turbines in the 3 MW range soon. Inox Wind has already got its 3MW series enlisted with MNRE and said that it has already got order for the same already. Recently it announced receiving the largest Indian wind order of 1.16 GW for its 3.15 MW wind turbines.

Senvion Energy also recently announced the deployment of its 4 MW series turbines. However, the biggest highlight in India’s wind market comes from the Adani Group, which has installed the country’s largest wind turbine, a 5.2 MW unit, in Khavda. As India begins its offshore wind journey, it is expected to deploy even larger turbines.

As per the latest Revised List of Models & Manufacturers (RLMM), India is home to 31 wind turbine makers, ranging from Indian to global players. The list said that there are around nine enlisted wind turbine makers which have wind turbines with capacities upto 3 MW of higher than that.

Indian renewable landscape

Renewable energy developers in India are optimistic about the potential for manufacturing larger wind turbines domestically. Companies like Juniper Green, which is installing hybrid renewable projects, have already procured 3 MW turbines from Suzlon for their wind projects.

Naresh Mansukhani, CEO of Juniper Green, said that India is likely to see its largest wind turbines in upcoming offshore projects. “I expect by January 2026, India is likely to see wind turbines in the range of 5.5 MW. Companies like Suzlon and Envision are likely to take the lead in this race,” he told Saur Energy.