As India races towards its 500 GW non-fossil fuel target, wind energy is quietly reasserting itself as a strategic pillar of the transition. Beyond capacity addition, the real story lies in industrial depth, supply chain resilience and global competitiveness. In an interview with ENERGDIVE, Aditya Pyasi, CEO, Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association, explains how India’s wind sector aims to scale, innovate and compete with global manufacturing leaders.
India’s renewable energy targets require rapid scaling across technologies. How do you see wind energy contributing to this growth trajectory over the next decade?
Wind is set to be one of India’s strongest pillars in achieving the 500 GW non-fossil target by 2030, with installed wind capacity expected to grow from about 55 GW today to roughly 100–140 GW over the decade. This growth will be anchored in both onshore and early offshore projects, supported by India’s sizeable technical wind potential of nearly 1,164 GW at 150 m hub height and a mature domestic manufacturing base of around 20 GW per year.
At the system level, wind’s generation profile complements solar, particularly during the evening and monsoon month, and its value is further enhanced when deployed in wind–solar hybrids and with battery storage.
As auctions increasingly shift toward hybrid and firm renewable products, wind will move from being just additional megawatts to becoming a key source of high-quality, higher-Plant Load Factor (PLF) power that stabilises a solar-heavy grid and underpins investor confidence in India’s long-term energy transition.
From the perspective of Indian wind turbine manufacturers, what key enablers are helping the sector scale up capacity and manufacturing in line with national renewable goals?
Indian wind turbine manufacturers are benefiting from a strong domestic ecosystem built over three decades, with about 18 GW per year of manufacturing capacity, 70–80 percent indigenisation, and 30-plus certified turbine models from roughly 14 companies that cover ratings up to about 5.2 MW.
This depth of suppliers, engineering capability and cost competitive manufacturing underpins India’s ability to scale wind in line with national targets while also serving export markets.
Policy and regulatory measures are a second major enabler: the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s (MNRE) 50 GW per year renewable energy tendering roadmap with around 10 GW earmarked for wind, Revised List of Models and Manufacturers (RLMM) or Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) style frameworks for wind turbines and components, and ‘Make in India’ or ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ localisation thrust all create medium term visibility for OEM order books and encourage investment in new lines and larger machines.
Finally, growing demand for hybrids, storage linked projects and higher PLF machines is aligning market needs with the technological strengths of Indian OEMs who are already supplying larger turbines optimised for India’s resource profile, at globally competitive costs. As wind additions accelerate with annual capacity additions projected to more than double in the next few years, these demand side signals reinforce investment confidence in manufacturing, R&D, and workforce expansion across the domestic wind value chain.
How is the domestic wind manufacturing ecosystem strengthening itself to support large-scale deployment, especially in technology, supply chains and skilled workforce?
India’s wind manufacturing is now being upgraded from legacy 2 MW designs to 3–5 MW platforms to serve both a domestic market where ≥3 MW turbines already dominate new installs and a fast growing export pipeline. High value drivetrains and power electronics (gearboxes, generators, converters, large bearings, advanced castings or forgings) remain the weakest link and are the focus of new investment and policy support.
The proposed steps include higher duties on fully built gearboxes and special bearings while cutting duties on concast and electrical grade steel, carbon fibre, balsa and epoxy inputs. It also envisages capex support and possible Production Linked Incentive (PLI) for forging, casting and special steels. An expanded RLMM that lists nacelle internal suppliers and ties them into central or state procurement, moves expected to narrow the domestic–import turbine cost gap from 20–30 percent to around 10 percent by 2030. This can make India competitive compared to China and other countries in exports market taking its share way above the targeted 10 percent of global exports.
Proposed policy measures include raising import duties on fully built gearboxes and specialised bearings, while reducing duties on key raw materials such as continuous cast (concast) and electrical-grade steel, carbon fibre, balsa, and epoxy resins.
The package also envisages capital expenditure support and a potential Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for forging, casting, and special steel manufacturing.
In addition, the expansion of the Revised List of Models and Manufacturers (RLMM) to include nacelle internal suppliers and linking them to central and state procurement is expected to strengthen domestic supply chains. Together, these measures could narrow the current 20–30 percent cost gap between domestically manufactured and imported wind turbines to around 10 percent by 2030.
If implemented effectively, the reforms would enhance India’s competitiveness vis-à-vis China and other major manufacturing hubs, potentially raising the country’s share of global wind turbine exports well beyond the current 10 percent target.
Hybrid and round-the-clock renewable projects are gaining traction. How are wind manufacturers adapting their products and capabilities to support these new project formats?
Hybridisation is one of the most exciting developments in India’s renewable landscape. Wind’s natural generation profile complements solar very effectively, making it a critical component in hybrid and round-the-clock solutions.
Manufacturers are increasingly designing turbines optimised for hybrid parks, supported by advanced forecasting and digital tools. This ensures better integration, higher efficiency, and improved reliability.
Wind is no longer viewed in isolation; it is becoming part of an integrated renewable solution. This shift opens tremendous opportunities for innovation and collaboration.
As renewable capacity expands, grid integration becomes increasingly important. How is the wind industry working with stakeholders to ensure smoother integration at scale?
Grid integration today is a collaborative success story. The wind industry is working closely with grid operators, regulators, and forecasting agencies to enhance predictability and responsiveness.
Modern turbines are equipped with advanced grid-compliant features such as voltage support and reactive power control. Forecasting accuracy has improved significantly through digital technologies and data analytics.
As capacity expands, we are confident that continued collaboration will ensure wind remains a reliable and stable contributor to India’s energy mix.
‘Make in India’ has created opportunities for domestic manufacturing. How is the wind sector leveraging this momentum to build globally competitive turbines and components?
The wind sector stands as a strong example of successful domestic manufacturing under the Make in India initiative. A substantial share of turbine components is already produced locally, demonstrating India’s capability and competitiveness.
This localisation enhances supply chain resilience and supports cost optimisation. More importantly, Indian manufacturers are increasingly participating in global markets, exporting components and expertise. With sustained demand and continued R&D focus, India has the potential to become not only self-reliant but also a global leader in wind technology manufacturing.
Repowering offers a pathway to unlock higher output from existing sites. How do you see repowering contributing to capacity scaling in the coming years?
Repowering represents a significant opportunity for the sector. Many early installations can now be upgraded with modern, high-capacity turbines that dramatically increase output from the same sites. With supportive frameworks, repowering can accelerate capacity growth without additional land use, improving efficiency and generation density. It also allows us to maximise the value of existing wind-rich locations. We see repowering as a natural next step in the sector’s evolution.
What is your long-term vision for India’s wind manufacturing industry as a key pillar in the country’s renewable energy scaling journey?
India’s wind manufacturing industry should evolve into one of the country’s signature strategic industries, at par with IT services and pharmaceuticals, powering a reliable, affordable and fully home-grown clean energy system.
The vision is that by the 2030s, every major component of a modern multi-MW turbine can be designed, engineered and built in India, creating high-quality jobs, anchoring industrial growth in wind-rich states, and giving India true energy sovereignty rather than replacing coal imports with technology imports.
Beyond 2030, wind manufacturing can become a symbol of India’s leadership in the Global South: exporting turbines, components and know-how; partnering with other developing countries on grid integration and resource adequacy; and demonstrating how a large, fast-growing economy can scale renewables without sacrificing reliability or competitiveness.
In that future, ‘Made in India’ wind technology will not just meet domestic targets, it is shaping global standards, driving innovation in hybrid wind-solar-storage solutions, and giving Indian firms a central role in the world’s clean energy transition.
