The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (“MNRE”) issued the ‘Guidelines for Development of Onshore Wind Power Projects’ dated 22 October 2016 (“Original Guidelines”) for setting up of wind power plants to promote a growth of the wind power sector in the country, keeping in mind the advancement in wind turbine technology. On 4 July 2024, the MNRE amended the Original Guidelines (“Amended Guidelines”) to include revised norms on micrositing for wind turbines.
Key Amendments
Micrositing is the process of determining best locations for setting up wind turbines, with a view to optimise generation. The Amended Guidelines bring in the following key changes in relation to micrositing:
1. Increase in the inter-turbine distance: Developers are required to:
a) maintain a distance of 5D (where D is the rotor diameter), from the turbines of other developers, when turbines are perpendicular to the predominant wind direction (as opposed to 2D in the Original Guidelines); and
b) a distance of 7D when aligned with the predominant wind direction (as opposed to 3D in the Original Guidelines).
The Amended Guidelines have further clarified that if there are dissimilar rotor diameters of adjacent turbines of different owners, the diameter of the larger turbine rotor must be considered for calculation of 5D and 7D distances. However, these distances may be reduced basis mutual consent of the developers of such adjacent turbines.
2. Proximity to Infrastructure: As per the Original Guidelines, developers are required to maintain a safe distance of HH + 0.5*RD + 5m from public roads, railway tracks, highways, buildings etc. The Amended Guidelines have further clarified the meaning of ‘public roads’ to mean such roads that are marked/notified by the relevant State or Central Government.
3. Noise Mitigation: To manage noise related concerns, the Original Guidelines prescribed that wind turbines must be located at least 500 meters away from any ‘dwellings’. The Amended Guidelines have replaced the term ‘dwellings’ with a ‘cluster of dwellings’, which has further been defined as “at least 15 buildings unless any state specific norm is prescribed by the concerned state”.
4. Deletion of wake loss thresholds: As per the Original Guidelines, the developers were required to plan and position the wind turbines in a manner that ensured that the energy losses due to wake effects were within a 10% threshold. This requirement has been removed in the Amended Guidelines.
Comments
The Amended Guidelines provide flexibility in determining inter-turbine distance that will allow efficient land utilisation. Additionally, by further amending guidelines related to noise mitigation and ensuring safe distances from populated areas, MNRE has demonstrated its commitment to responsible wind energy development and promotion of wind sustainability. Developing a clear mechanism for micrositing of wind turbines, by ensuring that wind turbines are located with a view to maximising efficiency, optimising land utilisation and enhancing the overall performance and sustainability of wind projects is a welcome move by MNRE.
