Wind Power generation has emerged as one of the most rapidly growing renewable energy technologies. The estimated power generation capacity inIndia through wind is about 45,000 MW. The installed capacity is about 1,870 MW, which is about 4% of the total estimated potential.

Globally, wind generation capacity has increased by 27% in the year 2002 and is expected to expand 15 – fold in the next 20 years. Wind energy technologies have matured and large capacity wind turbines in the range of 1.25 to 1.65 MW are now being manufactured in India. The productivity of larger capacity machines is higher than that of smaller machines. Minimum wind velocity required for power generation is about 2.5 m/s and the maximum could be 30 m/s.

Energy generation for 1 MW turbine could be about 28 to 30 lakhs units per year, with a plant load factor of 25 to 30% Among the different renewable energy sources, wind energy is currently making a significant contribution to the installed capacity of power generation, and is emerging as a competitive option. The programme covers research and development, survey and assessment of wind resources, implementation of demonstration and private sector projects and promotional policies.  As a result, India, with an installed capacity of about 3000 MW, ranks fifth in the world after Germany, USA, Spain and Denmark in wind power generation.

Small wind energy systems, namely water pumping windmills, aero generators and wind-solar hybrid systems can also be used for harnessing wind power potential, in addition to the large capacity wind turbines. These systems have been found to be very useful for meeting water pumping and small power requirements in decentralised mode in rural and remote windy areas of the country, which are un-electrified or have intermittent electric supply