Site selection for offshore wind farms along the Indian coast

Abstract

This study deals with locating the potential sites for offshore wind farms and also deals with feasibility of installing offshore wind farms through scientific examination of the requirements along the coast of India. Offshore wind energy is almost unexplored along the Indian coast.Potential and feasible regions need to be found and studied in more detail. In this regard, few of the essential primary parameters such as bathymetry, wind velocity, proximity to the coast, ports, harbours, marine protected areas, marine sanctuary were considered. Suitable sites for offshore wind farms were demarcated In a GIS environment. Weekly climatology (1999-2009) of wind speed was used to explore the seasonal wind potential. GIS analysis has brought out potential wind farms regions of 32,000 km 2 in north east Arabian Sea (Off Mumbai and Off Ratnagiri) where bathymetry is in the range of 20 m to 75 m. Wind velocity ranges between 1.9 m/s to 10.2 m/s in these regions. The second potential site has been identified at off Mangalore with 6490 km 2 . The third prospective site is Off Hooghly estuary.