Banking on the potential of wind energy

TODAY, WE live in an environment full of machines and gadgets, but at the same time all these developments have led to deterioration of our environment. Humans owe a lot to the world and it is their duty and responsibility to save the earth in whatever way feasible- and we are at a stage where if we do not prioritise our duties towards our planet earth- then the situation will definitely go out of hands.

Amid growing concern for the environmental degradation, the policy makers across the world have been forced to think about option of renewable energy resources to meet the demands. In such a case, wind is commercially and operationally the most viable renewable energy resource, and accordingly, has emerged as one of the largest source in terms of the renewable energy sector in the recent times.

According to latest data, wind power is growing at the rate of 30% annually, and is widely used in Europe, Asia, and the United States. Apart from being environment friendly, it also the cheapest source of electrical energy.

From an Indian perspective, the trend in the recent times has been encouraging and a major transformation has been witnessed in renewable energy sector, especially wind power. Not only is wind energy seen as a cheap and safe mode of generating power, but at the same time, it enables to ring in a higher growth trajectory. Today, in India, a number of large companies, including some foreign ones, are putting up wind farms in the country with Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra emerging as the preferred location.

Right since its inception in 1990s, the government adopted a market-oriented strategy which has led to the successful commercial development of the technology. Today India is a major player in wind power, and stands fifth with regards to total installed capacity behind USA, China, Germany and Spain.

The Indian wind energy sector has a potential of around 48500 MW at 50 m above ground level, and as of March 31, 2010, the installed capacity of the wind sector in the country has been around 11807.00 MW. So far, wind farms have been installed in 11 states wherein more than 95% of installed capacity belongs to Private Sector in seven states.

The Central Ministry and several State Nodal Agencies have stood up to the task to encourage growth of Wind Energy Sector through financial incentives and policy support, and quite evidently India has emerged as a major player in the global wind energy market. However, a lot still needs to be done, as the potential is far from exhausted.

Apart from government and big organisations working towards this cause, more effort needs to be put in towards a larger participation of the common man- as a majority of people, hardly know, or care, about these much-touted events and development. In order to make our earth a safe place to live, and preserve it for our future generations, we definitely need to redefine the values and principles that underlie our relationship with the Earth.

India has a great untapped potential for wind energy. The need of the hour is to urgently realise the country's full wind energy potential and reap the benefits- that will not only help preserve our planet earth but help our booming economy as well.