Cover Image Credits: Bishnu Sarangi from Pixabay
India is gearing up to enhance wind turbine standards as part of its efforts to bolster domestic manufacturing in the renewable energy sector. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is soon expected to introduce a quality control order (QCO) that will focus on ensuring the quality of various components used in wind turbines, including blades and gears. The move comes as India aims to tackle China’s practice of dumping products in the Indian market, which has contributed to a significant trade deficit between the two countries.
The QCO approach is being increasingly adopted by the Indian government to regulate product quality in various sectors, ranging from textiles to wind power. Under this order, manufacturers, importers, and distributors will be required to possess a license from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and adhere to the prescribed standards for the products they sell. Additionally, the government is developing the Indian Wind Turbine Certification Scheme (IWTCS), which is expected to be mandated under the QCO. The certification scheme, under development since 2018, aims to establish comprehensive standards that combine global best practices with relevant national standards and regulations set by the Central Electricity Authority.
Implementing a certification system, according to industry experts, will enable the creation of an Indian standard aligned with international certification norms, such as the International Electrotechnical Commission Renewable Energy (IECRE) standard. This move is expected to benefit the domestic wind power industry and facilitate global acceptance of Indian products. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy reports that the wind power equipment manufacturing sector has already achieved a significant level of indigenization, with around 70-80% localization.
While India houses several major global players in the wind energy sector, certain components are still imported from countries like China, Japan, South Korea, and Europe. By establishing stringent standards, India aims to expedite the development of offshore wind energy projects, contribute to its net-zero targets, and strengthen its position as a key player in the renewable energy domain.
(With inputs from Swarajyamag)
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