India added 1,139.5 MW of wind power capacity in the second quarter (Q2) of the calendar year 2023, representing a 165% year-over-year (YoY) increase, according to Mercom India Research.

Installations grew 54% quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) from 737.85 MW in Q1 2023.

The increase in installations was spurred by enabling policies by the government, such as the implementation of the Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) trajectory until 2029-2030.

The trajectory mandates that wind RPO can be fulfilled from wind projects commissioned after March 31, 2022.

Additionally, the government has specified the percentage of total energy consumption that can be sourced from solar and wind projects incorporating storage.

A few of the major wind projects commissioned during the quarter were – Apraava Energy’s 107 MW project in Gujarat, JSW Energy’s 103 MW of wind project in Tamil Nadu, Adani Green Energy’s 62 MW project, and Alfanar’s 55 MW project in Gujarat.

The rise in hybrid projects across the country is also adding to installation growth.

Gujarat led the states for wind installations accounting for 24.9% of the country’s total capacity. Tamil Nadu dropped to the second spot and accounted for 23.2%.

Karnataka was third in installations representing 12.1% of the total wind capacity during the quarter, and Rajasthan ranked fourth with 11.9% of the total wind capacity.

Maharashtra occupied the fifth position accounting for around 11.6% of the total wind capacity, followed by Andhra Pradesh with 9.4% and Madhya Pradesh with 6.5%.

The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has also issued an agency-wise bidding calendar for 50 GW of renewable energy projects for the current financial year (FY 2023-24), which includes at least 10 GW of wind tenders.

Mercom recently spoke with industry experts about the factors that could drive accelerated recovery in the wind sector.