The wind power industry seems to have managed the effects of the demonetisation well, judging by the fact that the capacity additions in November and December have only risen — though not sharply — compared with performance in the corresponding months of last year.
In the third quarter of the current financial year, India added wind capacity of 617.55 MW, compared with 711.93 MW in the corresponding period of last year.
However, in the post-demonetisation months of November and December, the achievement was 421.10 MW, against 410.47 MW of the same months last year.
Cumulatively, in the first nine months of the financial year up to December, the country added 1,923.05 MW, compared with 1,644.58 MW in the corresponding period of last year.
“Typically, all requisite activities for achieving commissioning are completed by December, and hence, final commissioning is achievable in last quarter. We believe the industry will achieve 2000 MW in Q4 and the target of 4000 MW for this fiscal,” said a spokesman of Suzlon, a wind turbine manufacturer.
In 2015-16, the wind industry added a record 3,472.16 MW, nearly half of which (1,698.47 MW) came only in the month of March.
Industry leaders hope for an encore this year. The target for the current year is 4,000 MW, though a few players (such as Tulsi Tanti, Chairman and Managing Director of Suzlon) have been even more optimistic.
To meet the target, more than 2,000 MW will need to be set up in the next three months, but judging by the performance of last March, it is not impossible, say experts.