The Centre is advocating for the availability of land for wind projects, while states are exploring the option of pooling unused government land

Centre Pushes for Land Availability to Propel Wind Energy Projects, States Look to Pool Unused Land

In a bid to accelerate the growth of India’s renewable energy sector, the central government is urging states to provide more land for wind energy projects. This push is a critical component of India’s strategy to meet its ambitious goal of achieving 500 gigawatts of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is in talks with various state governments to facilitate land allocation specifically for wind power development, which remains one of the key hurdles in scaling up wind energy projects.

Meanwhile, states are exploring innovative solutions to address land availability challenges. Several state governments are considering pooling unused or underutilized government land, which could significantly streamline the land acquisition process for wind energy initiatives. This move is seen as a proactive step to minimize delays and maximize the use of available land for green energy development.

Despite these efforts, land acquisition for large-scale wind and other renewable energy projects remains a cumbersome process. States often require multiple approvals from different government departments, which can extend the timeline for securing land. For instance, it typically takes between six to nine months to complete land procurement, even with the assistance of State Nodal Agencies (SNAs).

Globally, the land issue in renewable energy development is also prevalent, but solutions are being implemented. In the United States, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oversees millions of acres of public land that can be used for wind energy development. Between 2012 and 2020, wind turbines in rural areas were frequently installed on former cropland, which had a minimal impact on the overall agricultural landscape.

The Indian government’s initiative to facilitate land availability for wind energy, combined with state-level land pooling strategies, represents a promising effort to address the land bottleneck in the renewable energy sector. These measures could play a pivotal role in meeting India’s renewable energy targets and ensuring a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.