India and UK Launch Offshore Wind Taskforce for Renewable Energy Growth
In a significant step towards enhancing renewable energy collaborations, the Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Joshi, unveiled the India-UK Offshore Wind Taskforce today. The event, attended by the Rt Hon Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Mr. David Lammy, and the British High Commissioner to India, Ms. Lindy Cameron, underlines a shared commitment to tackle execution challenges in the energy sector.
Calling the Taskforce a “Trustforce,” Shri Joshi emphasized that it embodies the mutual confidence of India and the UK to develop effective solutions. He highlighted the importance of creating structured, time-bound workstreams with measurable milestones to ensure visible progress in expanding offshore wind capabilities.
Strategic Leadership for Renewable Energy
The newly formed Taskforce is more than a symbolic gesture; it serves as a strategic working mechanism aligned with Vision 2035 and the Fourth Energy Dialogue. Its primary goal is to foster leadership and coordination within India’s offshore wind ecosystem. Shri Joshi noted that while the UK has set a global benchmark in offshore wind development, India possesses the capacity, demand, and a rapidly evolving clean energy landscape.
To facilitate this cooperation, the Minister outlined three vital pillars: first, ecosystem planning and market design that includes refined seabed leasing frameworks and mechanisms to ensure revenue certainty; second, infrastructure and supply chains aimed at modernizing ports and boosting local manufacturing; and third, financing strategies that encompass blended finance models to attract long-term institutional capital.
India’s Offshore Wind Potential
Shri Joshi acknowledged the necessity for India’s energy transition to bolster reliability, grid stability, and energy security. He pointed out that promising offshore wind zones have been identified along the coasts of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, with comprehensive studies conducted by the National Institute of Wind Energy to prepare for initial projects. To support these early endeavors, the government has introduced a Viability Gap Funding scheme amounting to ₹7,453 crore (approximately £710 million).
Describing offshore wind as one of the most complex areas in the global energy transition, he stressed the need for specialized infrastructure and clear commercial frameworks to mitigate risks associated with this sector.
Synergies with Green Hydrogen Initiatives
Further highlighting the convergence between offshore wind and India’s green hydrogen ambitions, the Minister pointed out the nation’s leadership role in the Hydrogen Breakthrough Goal as per the international Breakthrough Agenda. He noted that under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, prices for green hydrogen have significantly dropped to ₹279 per kilogram (around £2.65), with green ammonia prices now at ₹49.75 per kilogram (approximately £0.47).
Shri Joshi noted that offshore wind could deliver high-quality renewable energy to developing coastal industries and green hydrogen initiatives, thus enhancing energy security and industrial competitiveness.
India’s Clean Energy Evolution
Concluding his remarks, Shri Joshi underscored that India’s clean energy transition hinges on large-scale execution. Currently, India’s installed non-fossil fuel capacity has surpassed 272 GW, incorporating over 141 GW of solar energy and 55 GW from wind sources. In the current financial year alone, India has successfully added over 35 GW of solar and 4.61 GW of wind capacity.
With a clear vision and shared determination, Shri Joshi asserted that offshore wind is poised to become a cornerstone of India’s clean, reliable, and self-sufficient energy future, symbolizing the flourishing partnership between India and the UK under Vision 2035.
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