State attracted over ₹29,200 crore in investments in wind and solar sector since 2021: Minister

Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister S.S. Sivasankar on Thursday said the State has attracted over ₹29,200 crore in investments in the wind and solar energy sector since 2021.

“Since 2021, Tamil Nadu’s wind sector has attracted over ₹5,700 crore, adding 816 MW of new capacity, with another ₹4,200 crore in the pipeline for 600 MW more. Our solar sector has drawn over ₹23,500 crore in investments for 6,736 MW, with projects worth ₹39,000 crore (5,700 MW) under advanced stages of approval,” he said speaking at the inaugural session of 7th edition of Windergy India 2025 conference in Chennai.

“We are ranked fourth nationally in total installed renewable capacity, with over 25,500 MW from renewable sources. In the wind energy segment, Tamil Nadu stands second nationally, with 11,500 MW of installed capacity,” Mr. Sivasankar said.

“Tamil Nadu’s energy vision is clear and bold. We aim to source 50% of our power requirement from renewable sources by 2030, 70% reduction in carbon emissions, and Net Zero by 2070, in line with India’s national commitments,” he said.

To meet the State’s growing power demand — projected to rise from 20,700 MW today to 35,500 MW by 2034–35 — our Resource Adequacy Plan outlines the need for 98,000 MW of contracted capacity, including 12,000 MW of wind, 18,000 MW of solar, and 11,680 MW of energy storage, Mr. Sivasankar said.

He also highlighted some of the recent policy measures including Tamil Nadu Wind Repowering, Refurbishment & Life Extension Policy 2024, Tamil Nadu Pumped Storage Policy 2024 and Tamil Nadu Small Hydel Policy 2024.

Mr. Sivasankar said the State is advancing several landmark projects, including 375 MW / 1500 MWh Battery Energy Storage System supported by Central government’s Viability gap funding, 500 MW Pumped Storage Project at Kundah, while 1,100 MW project at Vellimalai and 2,400 MW at Aliyar are in pre-project implementation phase.

“Our Green Energy Corridor-II and the upcoming 765 kV substations at Virudhunagar and Coimbatore will further enhance renewable evacuation capacity by nearly 6,000 MW,” Mr. Sivasankar said.

Tamil Nadu’s coastline holds over 35 GW of offshore wind potential, with excellent wind speeds and high-capacity factors. Through the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) and the India–Denmark Green Strategic Partnership, we are preparing the ground for India’s first offshore wind project off the Tamil Nadu coast, he said.

“With nearly 64% local content and over 2,500 MSMEs contributing to the sector, India has built one of the most resilient and competitive wind manufacturing ecosystems in the world. Our domestic capabilities today span across key components for wind such as nacelles, blades, and towers, commanding over 10% of global market share. With continued focus on technology, scale, and innovation, India is uniquely positioned not only to achieve 85% localization in the coming years but also to serve 10% of global wind supply chain by 2030,” Mr. Girish Tanti, Chairman, Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association (IWTMA), said at the event.