BharatNotes What is Offshore Wind Energy?
Offshore wind energy is power produced by wind turbines sited in seas and oceans rather than on land. Because winds over open water are stronger and less turbulent than over land, offshore turbines run at higher capacity factors — typically 35-50%, against 25-35% for onshore wind. Turbines come in two broad forms: fixed-bottom, anchored directly to the seabed in shallower water, and floating, mounted on moored platforms that unlock deeper waters (roughly 60 m and beyond), greatly expanding the resource base.
Key Features
- Higher, steadier output — consistent marine winds and the ability to deploy very large turbines (longer blades, taller hubs) raise generation.
- Located in maritime space — projects sit within a country's territorial sea or Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which extends up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline.
- Two technology tracks — fixed-bottom (mature, shallow water) and floating (emerging, deep water).
- Capital-intensive — higher installation, marine logistics and grid-connection costs than onshore wind, often needing government support to be viable.
India's Status (as of 2024-25)
India notified the National Offshore Wind Energy Policy in 2015 (Gazette notification dated 6 October 2015), with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) as the nodal ministry. MNRE estimates India's offshore wind potential at around 70 GW, split between Gujarat (~36 GW) and Tamil Nadu (~35 GW), and India targets 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030 as part of its broader renewable-energy goals.
In June-July 2024, the Union Cabinet approved a Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme with a total outlay of ₹7,453 crore — ₹6,853 crore to install and commission 1 GW of offshore wind (500 MW each off Gujarat and Tamil Nadu) and ₹600 crore to upgrade two ports. The VGF lowers the cost of power, making it viable for purchase by DISCOMs, and is the first major step toward implementing the 2015 policy.
Global Picture (as of end-2024)
| Indicator | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total installed offshore wind capacity | ~83 GW (GWEC, end-2024) |
| New capacity added in 2024 | ~8 GW |
| Leading country (7th year running) | China (~half of global total) |
| Other top markets | UK, Germany, Netherlands, Taiwan |
GWEC projects an additional ~350 GW of offshore wind between 2025 and 2034, reaching roughly 441 GW by the end of that period.
Why It Matters for India
Offshore wind complements solar and onshore wind by generating even when the sun is down, helping firm up the grid as India pursues its energy-transition and climate goals. The high costs, deep-water engineering, marine-ecology concerns and grid-integration hurdles, however, mean offshore wind in India remains at an early, policy-driven stage. For aspirants, it is a clean illustration of how geography (coastal wind regimes, the EEZ) intersects with energy security, technology and environmental policy.
