Small Wind Turbines (SWTs) in India

Solar and Wind energy dominate India’s renewable energy sector, with the country now 4th in renewable energy installed capacity in the world – 4th in Wind Power, and 3rd in Solar power capacity. However, with the increasing energy demand, the country also needs to explore the potential of other technologies, which largely remain unexplored. One such technology that has the potential of making it big in India’s renewable energy scene is the small wind turbine (SWT). 

Through this article, we explore the prospects of Small Wind Turbines in India.

India’s Wind Energy Status & SWT

India is among the leaders based on live wind capacities, competing with the likes of China, the US, and Germany. The country currently has over 52 GW of onshore wind capacity, with over 30  GW under implementation, as of 31 July 2025. 

Almost all of this wind capacity, however, comes from large utility-scale wind farms concentrated in high-wind regions like Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Karnataka, etc. The SWTs may help the wind sector go beyond these big wind energy hotspots, and help India go renewable even at the small and micro level.

Based on the scheme for the promotion of small wind energy and hybrid systems by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), wind turbines up to a rated capacity of 100 kW can be considered small.

These small wind systems can cater to local power requirements – for example, a home, farm, small business, telecom tower, or microgrid. In practice, most SWTs installed in India to date have been in the 500 W to 10 kW range, notes WRI’s “Scaling up small wind turbines in India” report.

Case for Small Wind Turbines

Small wind turbines (SWTs) represent a massive untapped opportunity, with a potential of over 100 GW across the country. The WRI estimates that Tamil Nadu alone holds 4 GW potential, while industry leaders, like Apeiro Energy’s Co-founder & CEO Kalpit Prajapati, believe India’s total SWT potential could be as high as 128 GW at 20m hub height.

Apeiro Energy is already piloting this vision, offering 1 kW turbines and hybrid models (500W wind + 160W solar) that can power farms, rooftops, riverside sites, cold storage, village microgrids, and even hybrid streetlights, showcasing the wide adaptability of this technology.

SWTs are particularly suited for areas unsuitable for large wind projects, and their flexibility makes them powerful partners to solar and batteries. Because wind often complements solar – blowing at night, during monsoons, or on cloudy days – hybrid systems deliver more reliable power while supporting critical loads in off-grid and microgrid settings. By generating electricity locally, they also cut transmission losses and strengthen distributed energy adoption.

Yet, despite this promise, India’s installed SWT and wind-solar hybrid capacity remains at just a few megawatts – a reminder of the huge gap between potential and deployment.

The Cost Factor

Small wind turbines are not only flexible and grid-friendly but can also be economically viable. According to WRI, well-sited SWTs can achieve a payback period of 6-8 years at tariffs above INR 7/kWh. 

Industry players are even more optimistic – Apeiro Energy notes its 1 kW iWind model generates 1,800-2,100 kWh annually, compared to 1,000-1,400 kWh from solar PV. This translates into a 3-4 year RoI and a Levelized Cost of Energy (LCoE) around INR 4.2/kWh, despite the absence of supportive policies. With policy backing, LCoE could drop further – down to INR 2/kWh, making SWTs highly competitive.

Installations on farms, rooftops, townships, and industrial sites can generate additional revenue streams—up to INR 15,000 per sqm. While upfront costs (approximately INR 80,000 per kW) remain higher than solar, industry players expect prices to fall with greater R&D, economies of scale, and targeted government support, potentially making SWTs cost-competitive with solar PV over time.

Challenges to SWTs in India

The gap between the potential and the negligible installed capacity of micro and small wind turbines (SWTs) in India highlights significant challenges hindering their adoption. Small wind remains largely unexplored due to economic, technical, and awareness barriers. 

Wind Speeds

A key issue is that many Indian regions lack desirable wind speeds of 4 m/s, which SWTs need for efficient operation. Urban areas face additional problems, as buildings create turbulence and wind shadow zones, leading to variable and often low energy outputs. This undermines the economic viability of small wind in many locations.

Lack of Data and Study

Another critical challenge is the lack of high-resolution wind resource data and micro-siting tools tailored to small wind. India’s current wind atlas is designed for large-scale utility projects and does not capture wind patterns at typical SWT heights (10–30 meters) or in complex terrains and cityscapes. 

Experts emphasise the need for specific wind maps for small turbines, especially in urban environments. Without reliable data, consumers and installers cannot predict energy production confidently, making investments risky. Regular, long-term performance data could help build trust and guide deployment.

Financial Bottlenecks

Small wind turbines remain costlier per kilowatt than solar or utility-scale wind. They demand sturdy towers, routine maintenance, and moving parts, but lack the economies of scale that make large wind farms competitive. This drives up upfront expenses for equipment, installation, and battery integration – often discouraging households and small businesses.

On the innovation side, R&D capital is equally scarce. As Prajapati noted, “We didn’t have access to long-term R&D capital, just small grants of around INR 6 lakh a year for the first three years.” Limited access to project financing and sustained R&D funding continues to be one of the sector’s biggest hurdles.

Infrastructural Gaps

Operating many dispersed small turbines challenges the maintenance infrastructure. Remote servicing capacity is limited, stressing the need for local skill development. User-friendly integration with existing energy systems and ensuring quality installations and after-sales support are crucial for scaling the sector.

Absent Policy Environment 

Lack of strong policy support has long held back India’s small wind sector. The MNRE’s Small Wind Energy and Hybrid Systems (SWES) programme – launched over a decade ago with subsidies of up to INR 1.5 lakh per kW (~USD 1,800/kW) – was discontinued in 2017, sharply slowing growth. Unlike solar, small wind lacks robust incentives; net metering remains limited to a few states like Maharashtra, and there are no dedicated feed-in tariffs.

Experts stress that policy clarity and technical standards are crucial. Unlike static solar panels, wind turbines carry dynamic loads, requiring strict safety frameworks. Past underperformance – driven by poor product quality and improper siting – has fuelled scepticism. Rigorous testing, certification, and adherence to NIWE protocols are seen as essential to building confidence and scaling adoption.

Policy Initiatives for the Way Forward

Recognising the need to diversify beyond just solar PV, the Indian government has recently started to renew its focus on small wind turbines. In November 2024, the MNRE (Ministry of New & Renewable Energy), in collaboration with the Centre for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), organised a dedicated stakeholder consultation workshop on promoting small wind turbines in India. 

At the workshop, officials emphasised that distributed renewable systems (like SWTs) are important for providing reliable and clean energy access across different settings. For this to bear fruits, policy support is crucial on ground.

Partnerships between industry and academia, backed by incentives, CSR funds, startup capital, and tax breaks, can accelerate small wind innovation. Equally critical is upgrading testing and certification standards to reflect real-world conditions, ensuring technology credibility and wider adoption. Finally, strong DISCOM integration and supportive deployment policies are essential – clear frameworks for linking mini-grids and community microgrids with the grid will be key to building a scalable market for distributed wind energy.

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}