August 3, 2025

In the first half of 2025, India made significant strides in its renewable energy sector, adding approximately 3.5 GW to its wind power capabilities, marking an impressive 82% year-on-year growth. This expansion has brought the total installed capacity of wind energy in India to 51.3 GW. Despite this progress, experts highlight that India's wind power potential remains largely untapped, with an estimated gross potential of 1163.9 GW at a height of 150 meters according to the National Institute of Wind Energy. At the Global Wind Day Conference held in June, Pralhad Joshi, the Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, addressed the pressing issues of land availability and delays in transmission infrastructure that States must overcome to further enhance wind energy development. As India grapples with ambitious climate goals and increasing energy demands, the need for renewable energy will only continue to grow. However, one of the critical concerns arising from this rapid wind power expansion is its impact on avian welfare. Researchers have long been alert to the risks that wind turbines pose to wildlife, especially birds. A recent study conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) published in Nature Scientific Reports has revealed that bird mortality rates at wind farms are alarmingly high in India, particularly within the Thar Desert region. This study focused on a vast desert landscape near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, home to around 900 wind turbines and 272 bird species, including the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard. Through seven multi-season surveys, the researchers searched for bird carcasses within a 150-meter radius of 90 randomly selected wind turbines. They discovered 124 carcasses, leading to an estimated annual bird mortality rate of 4,464 birds per 1,000 square kilometers when adjusted for various detection biases. In stark contrast, similar surveys conducted at 28 control sites away from the wind turbines found no carcasses, indicating significantly higher deaths linked to wind infrastructure. Yadvendradev Jhala, a co-author of the study, noted that accurate assessments of bird mortality are often hindered by challenges in detecting carcasses and establishing meaningful comparisons. A 2019 study had previously documented bird fatalities at wind farms in Kutch and Davangere, but the current figures from the Thar Desert—averaging 1.24 bird deaths per turbine per month—raise serious concerns. Experts point to various factors like geography, seasonality, and infrastructure configuration as critical determinants of mortality rates. Moreover, the findings highlighted that raptors are particularly susceptible to turbine collisions, echoing trends observed globally. Since raptors lay fewer eggs and have longer lifespans, increased mortality rates could significantly disrupt their populations. Organizations like Birdlife International have proposed mitigation measures, such as increasing turbine visibility through blade painting and shutting down turbines during peak migration seasons. However, experts assert that the most effective strategy lies in strategic site selection for wind farms. One resource in this endeavor is the Avian Sensitivity Tool for Energy Planning (AVISTEP), designed to assist in identifying locations where renewable energy development may adversely affect bird populations. The tool categorizes land across India into varying sensitivity levels, although the importance of ground studies before project implementation cannot be overstated. Currently, onshore wind energy projects in India are not required to undergo environmental impact assessments (EIA), leading to discussions about evaluating potential environmental risks adequately. As the country also explores offshore wind energy opportunities, aiming to install 30 GW of capacity by 2030, concerns extend to marine biodiversity. Despite minimal research on offshore wind farms' environmental impacts, experts emphasize the need for comprehensive marine spatial planning to safeguard marine ecosystems. The National Offshore Wind Energy Policy acknowledges the requirement for EIAs, setting it apart from other renewable projects. An EIA report for a proposed offshore wind farm in the Gulf of Khambhat recognized the presence of marine mammals, and while it noted potential disturbances, it controversially downplayed the risks to local bird species. Critics like Selvaraj challenge such assessments, urging for further investigations to ensure migratory birds are protected as these renewable projects evolve. As India continues to invest in wind energy development on land and sea, the balance between expanding green energy capacities and preserving avian and marine life will be critical in shaping the future of sustainable energy in the country.

Read More at Thehindu →

Tags: Wind energy, Bird mortality, Renewable energy, India,