NHPC seeks expression of interest to develop India’s first off-shore wind energy project

National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Ltd, India has plan to develop over 27 GW of renewable energy projects to contribute to India’s 2030 climate goals. As part of this NHPC has invited Expression of Interest (EoI) from global players to develop the country’s first-ever off-shore wind energy plant. India has committed to establishing 500 GW of cumulative electric power installed capacity through non-fossil fuel-based energy sources by 2030 under its revised Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The government would drive this clean energy push by inviting bids for 50 GW of renewable energy (RE) capacity annually for the next five years. Of 500 GW, 280 GW would be met by solar, and 140 GW from wind energy. Since India does not have any Off-shore Wind power projects currently, it intends to associate with the empanelled companies to formulate and submit bids invited by the government or its agencies for development of offshore wind power projects in India on Build-Own-Operate basis. NHPC currently holds a total installed capacity of 7097.2 MW. At least 6971.20 MW of it comes from the 22 Hydro Power Stations which make up for about 14.88 per cent of India’s total installed Hydro capacity of 46, 850.18 MW. The rest 76 MW comes from two Solar Power Projects and 50 MW from a Wind Power Project that it has recently forayed into. Overall, the hydropower giant generates nearly 25,000 million units of electricity per year through its network of hydro and renewable energy-based power plants.