New Delhi: India must add nearly 10 GW of wind capacity annually over the next decade to reach its wider goal of a net-zero economy by 2070, Union New and Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Wednesday. Speaking at the foundation day celebration of the Wind Independent Power Producers Association in the capital, Joshi said the country’s wind energy potential remains vast and largely untapped.
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“Today, we are ranked 4th globally, with over 56.1 GW installed and another 28 GW under implementation,” Joshi said. He added that India recorded a “record wind energy capacity addition of 6.1 GW” in financial year 2025-26.
“We are confident of achieving 100 GW capacity by 2030, and 156 GW by 2036,” the minister said, adding that “to reach our larger goal of a net-zero economy by 2070, India must add nearly 10 GW of wind capacity every year for the next decade.”
Joshi said the government has taken several steps to strengthen the investment climate for the sector, and cited the enforcement of the Late Payment Surcharge provision and transparent competitive bidding guidelines as measures that have improved investor confidence.
He said the government is committed to removing barriers faced by wind energy developers and that the ministry is working with the Minister of Defence to resolve issues related to projects coming up in border areas.
Joshi said India is also advancing Green Energy Open Access rules to allow industries to buy wind power directly from developers, reducing dependence on state discoms. For onshore wind, he said the government is prioritising repowering of old turbines at high-potential sites. “We have already put in place a national policy framework to enable their replacement.”
Asked about the proposed 1 GW offshore wind tender in Tamil Nadu, Joshi said: “There are some issues, and the government is working to address them.” He did not elaborate further.
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On the rules mandating the use of domestically produced solar cells from June, the minister said the move would boost local production and help lower input costs.
Some project developers, he said, are seeking more time and requesting that the rule not be implemented from June.