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UPSC Mains 2022
General Studies Paper - 1, Topic - Renewable Energy
Dec 28, 2022
2 min read
India has significant potential for wind energy, with an estimated capacity of 302 GW. However, the actual installed capacity is much lower, at around 37 GW. There are several reasons for the limited spatial spread of wind energy in India.
One reason is the uneven distribution of wind resources across the country. The best wind resources are found in the western and southern coastal regions, while the northern and eastern regions have lower wind speeds. This means that wind energy is not a viable option in many parts of the country.
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Another reason is the lack of infrastructure, such as transmission lines, to connect wind farms to the grid. This makes it difficult to transport the electricity generated by wind farms to areas where it is needed.
Finally, there are also issues related to land acquisition and local opposition to wind farms, which can make it difficult to secure the necessary approvals and permissions to build wind farms in some areas.
Overall, while India has significant potential for wind energy, a combination of factors, including the uneven distribution of wind resources, a lack of infrastructure, and local opposition, have limited the spatial spread of wind energy in the country.
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