As to wind energy, it should be enough to say it is picking up speed! Of the total 6000 MW of energy generated in the country from renewables, around 3595 MW is from wind. While the average generation from a single turbine could range from 250 to 1000 KW, the maximum achieved in India is 2 MW. The preferred wind speed for optimum generation is around 12 m/sec (40-50 kmph) above which the turbines have to be switched off to avoid fatigue. The average height of the wind mill is 200 mt while the blades could span 80 mt.

There are some criteria that have to be satisfied for wind energy generation. There has to be a good wind density meaning the availability of wind for a regular period of time. The wind speed and direction for a ten minute average is studied before setting up a turbine. The sea coasts are not exactly the best place for setting these up due to erratic and high speed winds. Off shore wind farms are catching up especially in Denmark . The winds are more steady at some distance from the coast. In India, land is more suited for wind energy generation as the land gets heated fast and gives rise to the thermally induced winds.

India is fourth in wind energy generation globally coming after Germany at 17,000 MW, Spain and the US. Denmark comes next only as most of its wind energy is now generated from off shore.

In Satara region of Maharashtra, wind farms generate around 338 MW. Interestingly, this became a contentious issue when the drought in the area was linked to the windmills. However, a scientific study that looked at the wind behavior and patterns in view of the obstruction in terms of the windmills found no evidence of a link to the rainfall. While the windmills are 100m high and 200m when horizontal, the monsoon flow extends at 5-6 km vertically. The base of low level clouds is 1500m above sea level, it was concluded that the windmills did not affect them. While the wind speed is reduced by the blades, it is made up by mixing with the surrounding wind stream. Also flow computation across the blades showed no change in temperature field thus leaving untouched the cloud morphology.

Another related concern about wind energy abroad has been the ecological impact on bird life. Studies by Denmark and Germany have shown negligible risks.

Being able to feed wind power to the grid has helped reduction in losses and strengthening the grid.