MNRE Issues Clarification On ‘Micrositing’ Norms For Wind Projects

MNRE Issues Clarification On 'Micrositing' Norms For Wind Projects

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued a new notification, clarifying that its earlier issued amendment in norms for onshore wind energy. The latest notification said that the last notification issued in this regard on July 4 on the issue of “micrositing” was meant only for the future projects and not for the current projects.

“In order to provide smooth transition and to ensure continuity of the ongoing project development, it is clarified that the said amendment is applicable for future wind projects, which are to be registered by the SNAs after data of its notification (July 4, 2024)) r the date notified by the state governments through GO/Policy/Guidelines on the matter , whichever is later,” the notification read.

The ministry, earlier on July 4 this year issued an amendment to the guidelines for the development of onshore wind power projects. The notification said that the developers need to optimise the wind turbine locations within their land using appropriate wind flow modelling and optimisation tools as per IEC 61400-1 standards for turbine safety considering extreme wind, flow inclination, vertical wind shear and turbulence.

It also said that the developers need to maintain a distance of 5D distance, if the turbine is in perpendicular to the predominant wind direction and 7D distance if turbine is in the predominant wind direction from the turbine of other developers.

It also said that the developers should not site wind turbines within 500 meters of any cluster of dwellings for the mitigation of noise. Cluster of dwelling meant at least 15 inhabited buildings unless any state specific norm is prescribed. 

The new notification has now tried to allay the fears of the wind project developers who are into the process of commissioning new wind projects in the country.

What is micrositing?

Micrositing is the optimization of energy production through the correct placement of wind turbine generators in the wind farm area, considering all physical constraints of the area. The optimised location of wind turbine generators may be computed by running an appropriate wind flow modelling, optimization tools and techniques in any terrain conditions, the MNRE had said in its last norms. It said that the criteria for micrositing should be based on an optimised output rather than a strictly mandated minimum distance between wind turbines.