Tamil Nadu’s Energy Department has amended several key provisions of its policy on repowering, refurbishment, and life extension for wind power projects. The policy was originally issued in 2024.
Under the revised provision, wind energy generators commissioned before April 1, 2016, must opt for repowering, refurbishment, or life extension after completing 20 years of operation. Meanwhile, projects commissioned on or after this date are permitted to continue operating for up to 25 years.
Furthermore, according to earlier provisions, turbines applying for life extension after 20 years of operation were required to show that their average generation over the previous three financial years was at least 90 per cent of the rated level. Under the revised provision however, this requirement has been eased to 70 per cent, subject to certification from the National Institute of Wind Energy or another independent agency.
The amended provisions also provide financial relaxation to developers. Under older provisions, developers were required to pay a development charge of Rs 3 million per MW for the entire wind generation capacity, even if only part of it was upgraded. However, under the revised clause, charge of Rs 3 million per MW is applicable only to the incremental repowered capacity, while imposing a much lower nominal charge of Rs 500,000 per MW on the existing capacity.
