Indian offshore wind presents a significant opportunity. With its wind resources and 7,900 km mainland coastline, India is ready to tap into its OSW potential. The Indian Government has a target of 37 GW of OSW licences to be auctioned by the end of 2030.
A new study, Socioeconomic impacts and skills development for Indian offshore wind, quantifies the socioeconomic impacts of meeting this target. BVG Associates, with support from ClimateHub India Advisors, produced the study with knowledge inputs from Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation.
Developing a robust domestic value chain to meet the Government’s target would boost the economy by ₹2,40,400 crore (about USD 28 billion) and generate 1,280,000 FTE years of employment.
“This important study finds that with the right frameworks, policy and vision, India can build a successful OSW industry,” Bruce Valpy, Managing Director, BVG Associates said. “That industry will deliver business, jobs and energy security over many years.”
India has an opportunity to become a competitive player within the global OSW supply chain by utilising its strong manufacturing base. Opportunities for investments include facilities for nacelle assembly and manufacture of blades, towers, foundations and array cables.
India’s expertise in oil and gas, and maritime sectors will help it realise benefits from installation and commissioning. With investment and a large enough market, many activities can be carried out by Indian contractors.
The main route to creating local benefit is to get robust national and state visions, policies and frameworks. These will give global and Indian offshore wind OSW industry players confidence to invest.
The benefits go beyond economic factors. India can reap the social benefits that OSW has delivered in other countries. Case studies from around the world show how OSW developers deliver community benefits and share project rewards. Community funds, employment initiatives and investment in infrastructure can all boost Indian offshore wind dividends. OSW industry players need to have confidence invest to develop local workforces.
The study identifies opportunities for skills development for Indian OSW. Skills development will be critical to support the OSW sector. The study identifies 62 key job roles across development, manufacturing, installation, and operations. Roles such as technicians, project managers, and environmental analysts will be in high demand.
The study gives 22 recommendations for India to maximise the chances of realising the opportunity from Indian offshore wind.
The study involved extensive stakeholder engagement via one-to-one engagement and workshops. Participants included representatives from Indian and multinational companies. It was conducted from October 2024 to January 2026. The economic impact assessment methodology was developed in-house by BVGA and is used across the globe. It covers all aspects of development, construction, operation, and decommissioning of an OSW farm. Additional benefits will come from associated electricity transmission beyond the onshore substation and the construction of port and manufacturing facilities.
The study can be downloaded here: Socioeconomic impacts and skills development for Indian offshore wind
