India Exported More Than 12000 Cr. Worth of Wind Turbines and Components in FY25-26

IWTMA Report Calls for Policy Reforms to Boost India's Wind Turbine Exports
IWTMA Report Calls for Policy Reforms to Boost India's Wind Turbine Exports

The Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association (IWTMA) has unveiled a report titled “Elevating India’s Wind Turbine Exports for Global Markets”, outlining a comprehensive roadmap to position India as a leading global exporter of wind turbines and components. The report comes at a time when India’s wind manufacturing industry is witnessing significant growth, with an installed manufacturing capacity of around 24 GW per annum, while the domestic market is projected to add approximately 10 GW of new capacity annually.

According to IWTMA, India’s wind industry is already exporting an estimated 4–6 GW of wind turbine components every year. While the country installed a record 6.1 GW of wind capacity during FY25-26, exports of wind turbines and components surpassed INR 12,000 crore during the same period, representing nearly a 50 percent increase from INR 8,200 crore recorded in FY24-25, based on data from the IWTMA database.

The report highlights that with the global wind market expected to reach nearly 212 GW of annual installations by 2030, exports should evolve from being an opportunity into the primary growth driver for India’s wind sector. However, it notes that several structural barriers continue to limit India’s export potential and require targeted policy interventions.

One of the key recommendations focuses on strengthening India’s export finance and incentive framework. The report states that unlike major wind manufacturing nations such as Denmark, Germany, China, and the United States, India currently lacks an export-linked manufacturing incentive for wind turbines. This places domestic manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage due to higher production costs, limited access to long-term export financing, and insufficient buyer-side risk mitigation. To address these challenges, IWTMA recommends introducing an Export-Linked Wind Manufacturing Incentive (EL-WMI) linked to either installed capacity or turnover for a period of five to seven years. It also proposes the establishment of an Indian Wind Export Finance Facility (I-WEFF) through EXIM Bank or IREDA to provide long-tenor buyer’s credit, supplier financing, and local currency lending in emerging markets. In addition, the report calls for an Export Credit Agency-backed payment deferral mechanism with sovereign guarantees to enable Indian manufacturers to offer deferred payment terms in international projects. Reinstating the Interest Equalisation Scheme for the wind sector and classifying wind turbine exports as project exports are also identified as immediate priorities.

The report further emphasizes the need to deepen localisation across the wind manufacturing supply chain. Although assembly-level localisation has reached approximately 70 percent, system-level localisation remains around 50 percent due to continued dependence on imported high-value components such as generators, converters, and specialty castings. To reduce supply chain vulnerabilities and improve cost competitiveness, the report recommends introducing manufacturing-linked incentives tailored specifically for wind components under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) framework. It also advocates duty rationalisation on specialty steel, development of supplier clusters near major ports, stronger collaboration between original equipment manufacturers and small and medium enterprises, and easier access to collateral-free financing for Tier-2 suppliers. Diversifying the sourcing of rare-earth magnets and investing in magnet-light drivetrain technologies are also highlighted as strategic measures to reduce reliance on China-dominated supply chains.

Addressing certification challenges is another major focus of the report. It notes that the absence of an IECRE-recognised certification body in India creates significant barriers to export bankability, resulting in higher financing costs and limited participation in regulated international markets. The report recommends that the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE), which already holds NABCB and NABL accreditation, establish an independent certification division and pursue IECRE membership. It also proposes government support for internationally recognised certifications such as IEC, UL, and DNV, alongside the introduction of an ALMM Export Track to facilitate certification specifically for export-oriented turbines without affecting the domestic approval process.

On the technology front, the report warns that Indian manufacturers continue to focus largely on 2–3 MW turbine platforms, while international demand is increasingly shifting towards advanced 5 MW and larger turbines equipped with smart technologies, predictive maintenance capabilities, and lower levelised cost of energy. To bridge this gap, IWTMA recommends launching a dedicated Wind Research and Development Mission with government support to co-develop 4–6 MW turbine platforms in partnership with global technology leaders. Priority research areas include advanced blade aerodynamics, adaptive control systems, digital twin technologies, predictive maintenance solutions, automated manufacturing processes, next-generation blade materials, and improved gearbox and converter testing infrastructure. The report estimates that increasing localisation to 80–85 percent through focused research and development could reduce component costs by up to 20 percent.

The report also underscores the importance of establishing a robust global service and after-sales support network. It recommends developing regional service hubs and decentralised spare parts logistics centres across priority export markets, including South Africa, Australia, the Philippines, and Central Asia. Building local technical expertise through Global Wind Organisation (GWO) training, deploying specialised mobile maintenance teams, and implementing SCADA-based remote monitoring combined with artificial intelligence-driven predictive maintenance are identified as essential for building long-term customer confidence and strengthening India’s position as a full-lifecycle wind solutions provider.

To improve international visibility, IWTMA proposes a coordinated ‘Brand India Wind’ initiative aimed at strengthening India’s global reputation as a reliable wind manufacturing destination. The strategy would focus on promoting manufacturing quality, adherence to international standards, and competitive lifecycle costs through participation in global trade exhibitions, government-led trade missions, digital marketing campaigns, and strategic partnerships with engineering, procurement and construction companies, utilities, and development finance institutions. The report also recommends regular assessment of international market perception through surveys and analytical tools to ensure continuous improvement.

Finally, the report advocates stronger strategic partnerships to accelerate market entry and technology collaboration. It encourages Indian wind turbine manufacturers to pursue joint ventures, co-manufacturing arrangements, regional service partnerships, and revenue-sharing models in priority export markets. It also highlights the need for greater utilisation of government trade missions and diplomatic channels to facilitate international partnerships and strengthen India’s presence in the rapidly expanding global wind energy market.

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