Government Planning Exploration of Offshore Hydrocarbon Blocks and Wind Farms

The Ministries of Petroleum and natural gas (MoPNG) and New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) are planning to combine offshore hydrocarbon block exploration with offshore wind turbines for greater synergy. The overall framework of the concept is being developed, and the first conversations with stakeholders are yielding positive results according to Industry Outlook.

A government official reveals, “The concept we’re developing is a good one. To get the most energy out of a single resource or block, offshore hydrocarbon blocks and wind farms are combined. We are putting the finishing touches on the proposal. As India gets ready to announce its first offshore wind seabed lease tender soon, this idea becomes more crucial”.

Gujarat has the longest coastline, at 1,600 kilometers, followed by Tamil Nadu at 1,076 kilometers, despite having a total of 7,600 kilometres of coastline, the development of offshore wind projects in the country is moving slowly. The initial phase of offshore wind projects would be located between Gujarat and Tamil Nadu’s shores, with a combined potential of roughly 70 GW.

The official further added, “Exploration and production firms are working to expand oil and gas output while simultaneously diversifying their energy sources and pushing towards net zero energy production. India has a sizable quantity of hydrocarbon deposits with excellent potential for wind energy. As part of its decarbonization efforts, India has committed to reducing global warming by producing 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030, including roughly 140 GW from wind energy”.