Navigating challenges as India charts its offshore wind energy future.

SECI Cancels Two Offshore Wind Tenders Citing Lack of Developer Interest.

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has cancelled two offshore wind energy tenders—a 500 MW project under the viability gap funding scheme and a 4,000 MW sea-bed lease rights allocation—due to insufficient response from developers. The 500 MW tender, issued in September last year for a build-own-operate project in Gujarat, included seabed surveys and a 25-year power purchase agreement. However, the complexities of the technology and high capital costs limited developer interest. While SECI has not finalised plans, a revised tender could be issued in the future. Industry insiders suggest the project’s potential remains intact, but offshore wind’s nascent status in India poses challenges. This marks a cautious pause in the country’s offshore wind ambitions as it navigates the technology’s complexities and financing hurdles.