By Preeti Wadhwa
India’s wind power sector is undergoing a technological transformation as developers and turbine manufacturers respond to evolving market dynamics, declining tariffs, and the need to maximise generation from limited land resources. Over the years, turbine technology deployed in the country has advanced in terms of turbine, rotor and tower size and design. These innovations are helping improve capacity factors, unlock low-wind sites and reduce the levellised cost of electricity from wind power projects.
This article highlights the technology trends shaping the wind power market in India…
Larger turbine platforms
One of the notable shifts in India’s wind sector is the move towards higher capacity turbines. This allows developers to generate significantly more electricity from each installed unit, reduces the total number of turbines required for a project, and lowers associated infrastructure costs on foundations, cabling, installation, etc. Such efficiency improvements are critical for maintaining project viability.
Modern turbines deployed in India now feature rotor diameters exceeding 140 metres and hub heights of up to 160 metres. These configurations increase the swept area of the turbine and enable better utilisation of wind resources, resulting in higher annual energy generation.
According to the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers – Wind, as of March 2026, the highest capacity turbine is Venwind Refex Power Limited’s GWH182 turbine with a capacity of about 5.3 MW. It has a rotor diameter of roughly 183.5 metres with hub height ranging from 110 metres to 130 metres. Falling in the same category, Adani New Industries Limited’s MWL-160 turbine has a rated capacity of about 5.2 MW. The turbine features a rotor diameter of around 160 metres and a hub height of about 120 metres.
Further, a large portion of India’s wind resources are located in regions with moderate wind speeds. To make projects viable in such areas, turbine manufacturers are designing machines that are specifically suited for low-wind conditions. Low-wind turbines typically have larger rotor diameters relative to their generator capacity; this allows them to capture more wind energy even when wind speeds are relatively low. They also incorporate improved blade aerodynamics and advanced control systems that optimise performance.
For instance, Inox Wind’s 3 MW turbine platform and Senvion India’s 4.2M160 turbine feature large rotor diameters that help increase energy capture at low- and medium-wind sites. These turbines are helping unlock wind potential in inland states where wind resources were previously considered insufficient for large-scale projects. Such turbines assist in wind development beyond traditional wind-rich regions such as Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.
Longer rotor blades
Rotor design is another area where significant technological progress has taken place. Modern wind turbines feature longer blades and larger rotor diameters, allowing them to capture more wind energy. A larger rotor increases the swept area of the turbine, enabling it to intercept more wind. Even small increases in rotor diameter can lead to substantial improvements in energy generation. As a result, turbine manufacturers are focusing on optimising blade length and aerodynamic design.
Advances in composite materials have also contributed to better blade performance. Modern blades are manufactured using lightweight yet strong materials that improve structural strength while keeping the overall weight manageable. In some designs, carbon fibre reinforcements are used to increase stiffness and reduce blade deflection during operation.
Improved blade aerodynamics also help turbines operate efficiently across different wind speeds. This is particularly important for India, where wind resources vary widely across regions. Turbines with advanced blade designs can maintain stable performance even in moderate wind conditions, helping developers achieve higher capacity factors.
Taller towers and hybrid tower designs
Another major trend in wind turbine technology is the increase in tower height. Taller towers allow turbines to access stronger and more stable wind flows at higher altitudes. Wind speeds generally increase with height, and taller hub heights can significantly improve electricity generation.
In India, tower heights have increased from around 80 metres to 100 metres in older projects to 140 metres or more in modern installations. Some turbine models now offer hub heights of up to 160 metres, enabling better utilisation of wind resources. For instance, Suzlon’s S144 turbine platform can be deployed with hub heights of up to 160 metres, enabling developers to access stronger wind speeds at higher altitudes and improve energy generation.
To support these larger turbines, manufacturers are developing hybrid tower designs that combine steel and concrete sections. These hybrid structures provide the strength required for taller towers while maintaining stability and cost efficiency. Modular tower designs are also becoming more common. These allow tower sections to be transported more easily and assembled on site, which is particularly useful in remote project locations.
Future outlook
In addition to utility-scale turbines, emerging technologies such as vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) and small wind systems are gaining traction. Unlike conventional turbines, VAWTs have blades that rotate around a vertical shaft rather than a horizontal axis. This design allows them to capture wind from any direction. As a result, they are particularly suited for urban environments where wind patterns are irregular. These turbines can also operate at relatively low wind speeds and typically produce lower noise levels compared to large horizontal axis turbines. Their compact design makes them suitable for installations on rooftops, highways and small infrastructure projects.
For instance, a 10 kW rooftop VAWT is being installed at the Hejamadi toll plaza on National Highway-66 in Karnataka as part of a sustainable highway initiative. In another example, a VAWT has been installed at a BPCL fuel station in Asalwas, Haryana.
Small wind turbines are also being explored for distributed applications such as telecom towers, agricultural operations and remote rural areas. When combined with solar power systems and battery storage, they can provide reliable electricity in off-grid or weak-grid locations. Although deployment remains limited at present, these technologies could complement large wind farms by supporting decentralised renewable energy solutions.
At the same time, new concepts such as bladeless wind turbines are emerging globally. These systems generate electricity through vortex-induced vibrations rather than rotating blades, which could reduce maintenance requirements, noise levels and environmental impacts. While still at an early stage of development, such technologies could expand the range of locations where wind energy can be deployed in the future.
Despite these advancements, India’s wind sector continues to face technological and deployment challenges. The country is only beginning to adopt turbines in the 5 MW scale, while countries such as China, for instance, have rapidly scaled up turbine capacities, with manufacturers such as Sany Renewable Energy producing SI-270150 onshore wind turbine with a capacity of about 15 MW and a rotor diameter of nearly 270 metres.
India also lags behind in the offshore wind segment. Despite a significant offshore wind potential, the country currently has no operational offshore wind projects. In contrast, China has made substantial progress in deploying large offshore wind technologies. For example, MingYang Smart Energy’s MySE 16.0-242 offshore turbine has a capacity of 16 MW and a rotor diameter of 242 metres, while Goldwind has introduced offshore turbine platforms of up to 16 MW. Notably, Dongfang Electric has developed an 18 MW offshore turbine, among the world’s largest to date. The deployment of such large turbines highlights the scale of technological advancement globally and the gap that India must bridge.
Going forward, addressing these challenges will require accelerated policy support, domestic manufacturing scale-up and investment in advanced turbine technologies. The continued evolution of larger turbines, longer blades, taller towers and digital monitoring systems will help improve wind project economics and expand the range of viable project sites. With stronger policy frameworks, the development of offshore wind projects and the adoption of next-generation technologies, India has significant potential to scale up wind capacity and strengthen its position in the global wind energy market.
