India’s Wind Energy Sector

India’s Wind Energy Sector 
Why in News?
•    India installed a record 6.05 GW of new wind power capacity during 2025–26.
•    This surpassed the previous installation record of 5.2 GW achieved in 2015–16.
•    The Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association (IWTMA) has projected fresh installations of approximately 8 GW in the current year.
•    Despite the record additions, the industry has expressed serious concerns regarding Right of Way (RoW) issues.
Present Status of Wind Energy in India
•    Wind energy is an important component of India's renewable energy sector and contributes significantly to clean power generation.
•    Wind farms require large areas of land for turbines, access roads, transmission infrastructure and transportation of equipment.
•    Recent technological advancements have enabled wind projects to expand into regions that were previously considered unsuitable for wind energy generation.
•    India currently has 56.8 GW of installed wind energy capacity.
•    The Government has set a target of achieving 100 GW of installed wind capacity by 2030.
•    To achieve this target, India must add approximately 11 GW of wind capacity annually over the next four years.
•    Industry leaders have warned that achieving this target may become difficult unless existing bottlenecks are resolved.

Right of Way (RoW): The Major Challenge
What is RoW?
•    Right of Way (RoW) refers to the legal right to use land belonging to another person or entity for a specific purpose, such as roads, transmission lines, pipelines, railways, or other infrastructure projects.
•    RoW deals with obtaining access across land for the movement of equipment and development of project infrastructure.
•    Wind projects require access for turbines, transmission lines, access roads, cranes and construction materials.
Why is the Problem Increasing?
•    Wind projects are now spreading into a larger number of locations due to improvements in turbine technology.
•    Developers increasingly interact with multiple landowners and local interest groups.
•    Protests, compensation disputes and local opposition have increased project delays and costs.
•    In several cases, disruptions occur after substantial investments have already been made in project construction.
•    The growing size of wind turbines has worsened transportation challenges.
•    Modern turbine blades now exceed 80 metres in length, making movement of equipment more difficult.
Impact on the Sector
•    Project execution becomes slower and more expensive.
•    Developers face repeated delays and additional compensation demands.
•    Industry representatives have warned that persistent RoW issues could affect future capacity additions.
Andhra Pradesh Model
•    Andhra Pradesh has adopted a land-leasing approach for renewable energy development.
•    The State leases land from owners at approximately ₹30,000 per acre per year.
•    The lease includes a 5% escalation every two years.
•    Many landowners have opted to participate in the programme.
•    The State is in the process of acquiring 1.5 lakh acres on a 25-year lease basis for renewable energy development.
•    Officials have indicated that this model has helped avoid significant RoW issues.
Way Forward
•    Resolution of Right of Way issues is essential for sustaining future wind energy growth.
•    Better coordination between developers, local communities and State governments can help reduce project delays.
•    Successful implementation of models such as land leasing may help facilitate future renewable energy expansion