Question : OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY

(a) whether the Government has set up an Offshore Wind Energy Steering Committee for development of offshore wind power in the country in a focussed manner;

(b) if so, the details of the road map worked out by the Committee for offshore wind power development after examining the available data with various agencies; and

(c) the steps taken by the Government to formulate policy guidelines for tapping offshore wind energy potential and develop policy framework for offshore wind energy sources in a time bound manner in coastal areas of the country including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Goa, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu?

MINISTER FOR NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY (DR. FAROOQ ABDULLAH)

(a): Yes, Madam.

(b)&(c): The Offshore Wind Energy Steering Committee (OWESC) under the chairmanship of Secretary, MNRE and its sub-committee held several meetings to deliberate on various aspects of offshore wind energy development in the country. As a result, the Draft National Offshore Wind Energy Policy has recently been announced by the Ministry. The draft has also been placed on MNRE website inviting comments and suggestions of stakeholders.