India is planning its first offshore wind farm prototype off the coast of Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu. The ₹77 crore project features a 6.25-MW turbine located 1,650 metres from the harbour. Srivatsan Iyer said, “This installation can catalyse the offshore wind industry,” helping developers learn about logistics and power evacuation.
For decades, Tamil Nadu has been one of India’s biggest wind power hubs, with turbines spread across its plains and mountain passes. Now, the State is preparing to take the industry into a new frontier — the sea.
India’s first offshore wind farm prototype is being planned in the coastal waters off Thoothukudi, with a single 6.25-MW turbine to be installed about 1,650 metres from the Southern Breakwater of the Inner Harbour.
The project, estimated at ₹77 crore, is being tendered by Indian Port Rail & Ropeway Corporation Ltd (IPRCL). The contract covers the design, procurement, construction, installation, testing and commissioning of the offshore wind turbine, followed by two years of operation and maintenance.
The power generated will be evacuated to the State grid. Energy meters installed onshore will record the export of power to the grid and import from the grid in accordance with TANGEDCO/TANTRANSCO norms, the document says.
“India’s first offshore wind turbine marks the point where offshore moves from policy intent to something the industry can see, test, and learn from,” said Srivatsan Iyer, Global CEO, Hero Future Energies.
He said the turbine would generate operating experience on wind-resource performance, installation and vessel logistics, port and local supply-chain mobilisation, and evacuation of electricity from the sea.
“This installation can catalyse the offshore wind industry,” Iyer said, adding that it could help build confidence among developers, lenders and policymakers ahead of commercial-scale projects.
Foundation
According to the tender document, the prototype is intended to establish experience in engineering, marine logistics, grid connectivity and operations — capabilities that would be required for deploying offshore wind at scale. It is also expected to provide a foundation for future large-scale offshore wind projects along India’s coastline.
The choice of the Thoothukudi coast is significant.
The site combines favourable offshore wind conditions with an established port ecosystem and maritime logistics infrastructure, potentially allowing the project to test not only the turbine but also the wider ecosystem needed to install and operate machines at sea.
DV Giri, an industry expert, feels a 6.25-MW turbine is relatively small for offshore wind, where turbines of more than 10 MW are increasingly common. The government, he argued, should instead consider a 1-GW pilot project and involve ONGC, given its experience in deep-water operations.
Wind projects
The Global Wind Energy Council says the average turbine installed in offshore wind projects in 2025 was 10.3 MW.
Economics remains another challenge. Offshore projects involve substantially higher installation, vessel and marine-infrastructure costs than onshore wind, raising questions over whether the resulting tariff can support financially viable projects without policy support.
India already has a substantial wind-power base. Government data put the country’s installed wind-energy capacity at 57,443 MW as of June 30, 2026. Tamil Nadu is a leading State in India’s renewable energy sector with over 10,734 MW.