Context: India and the United Kingdom launched the India-UK Offshore Wind Taskforce under Vision 2035 to accelerate cooperation in offshore wind energy development.
About India-UK Offshore Wind Taskforce:
What it is?
- The India-UK Offshore Wind Taskforce is a bilateral cooperation platform launched under the Fourth India-UK Energy Dialogue to strengthen collaboration in offshore wind energy.
- It brings together policy makers, industry stakeholders, and technical experts to guide the development of India’s emerging offshore wind sector using UK expertise and Indian market scale.
Aim / Objectives:
- Accelerate offshore wind deployment through strategic India-UK cooperation.
- Develop a robust offshore wind ecosystem including policy, infrastructure, and financing frameworks.
- Promote long-term energy security and industrial competitiveness under Vision 2035.
Key Features:
- Strategic Leadership Platform: Provides coordinated guidance for India’s nascent offshore wind sector.
- Three Priority Pillars:
- Ecosystem planning & market design (seabed leasing, revenue certainty).
- Infrastructure & supply chains (ports, manufacturing, marine logistics).
- Financing & risk mitigation (blended finance, institutional capital mobilisation).
- Identified Offshore Zones: Initial development planned off Gujarat and Tamil Nadu coasts.
- Government Support: Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme of ₹7,453 crore to support early projects.
- Energy Transition Linkage: Supports National Green Hydrogen Mission through renewable coastal power supply.
Relevance for UPSC Exam:
- GS Paper II – International Relations
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- India-UK bilateral cooperation in energy and technology.
- Climate diplomacy and strategic partnerships.
- GS Paper III – Environment & Energy
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- Renewable energy transition and clean energy technologies.
- Offshore wind as part of India’s climate commitments and energy security strategy.
- Green hydrogen ecosystem and decarbonisation pathways.
