The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has renamed the Revised List of Models and Manufacturers of Wind Turbines (RLMM) as the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (Wind).

The ministry has also mandated the use of major wind turbine components such as Blade, Tower, Gearbox, Generator, and Special Bearings (Main, Pitch, and Yaw Bearing) from the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (Wind Turbine Components) in the manufacturing of listed wind turbines.

The ALMM (Wind Turbine Components) list will be issued by MNRE separately.

MNRE has said that the wind turbine R&D center, data center, and/or servers should be located within India to enhance the cybersecurity ecosystem.

These updates will not apply to the wind projects that have already been bid, and captive, open access, commercial and industrial, or third-party sale projects scheduled for commissioning within 18 months from the date of issuance of the amendment.

Additionally, new wind turbine manufacturers and new wind turbine models will be exempted from the mandatory use of components listed in ALMM (Wind Turbine Components) for a total capacity of 800 MW for two years. This is to promote the new technologies that offer innovation and performance efficiency not available indigenously.

MNRE issued a procedure to apply for inclusion of a Wind Turbine Model in RLMM in 2018.

The RLMM mechanism was aimed at ensuring the quality and reliability of wind turbines installed in the country and protecting consumer interests.

It was also intended to promote the domestic wind turbine manufacturing industry in the country, which has now crossed 20 GW annual capacity.

In April, MNRE released draft amendments to the procedure for including wind turbine models. As per the amendments, the manufacturers must disclose the source of the turbine’s blade, tower, gearbox, and generator. They must also share their tower type, rate power, technical collaboration details, type certification, and IS/ISO certification.

Last year, MNRE amended the micro-siting onshore wind power criteria to focus on optimized output rather than the minimum distance between turbines.