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JP Chalasani, Chief Executive Officer, Suzlon Group
What will be the impact of new Revised List of Models and Manufacturers of Wind Turbine?
The new RLMM rules envisage that every company should have their R&D centre located in India in the next one year. The objective of these guidelines is to encourage that turbines should be designed to withstand Indian specific conditions such as low wind speeds and high temperatures. This will avoid situation like some wind turbines tripping due to high temperatures in Rajasthan.
Though the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) standard prescribes designing turbines to suit extreme local conditions, it is generally overlooked when you design turbines for global supply and modify for India. Hence, this step will enable greater grid stability. It will encourage all OEMs to design their turbines in India to suit local conditions, set up the prototype turbines for testing and certification. Suzlon has been making, designing and testing in India even before these regulations.
Will the new rules on cybersecurity be of help?
The cybersecurity norms mandate data centres have to be in India. The entire data on the turbine operation has to reside in India. Today, turbines can be operated remotely also. Since every single turbine is connected to the main grid ultimately, cybersecurity is critical because one single wind turbine can actually compromise the entire grid.
Will the new normal boost sourcing from India?
ALMM (Wind) aims at encouraging domestic manufacturing and improving the quality of products. Every turbine will be inspected, and only quality players will get listed. This will enable India become a global wind energy hub. Since everybody will procure from the listed ALMM players, the quality and cost will be the same and there will be a level playing field. Now the differentiator will be the efficiency in terms of manufacturing or in commercial procurement.
Will this boost domestic manufacturing?
Yes. This mandate now provides good opportunity for India’s 20 GW wind manufacturing capacity to be utilised to power both domestic demand and global markets. Equally important is the policy’s decisive focus on cybersecurity and data localisation. By ensuring that operational control and critical data remain within India’s borders, the government has elevated energy security to a national priority. The new norms will increase capacity utilisation to 70-80 per cent from current 25-30 per cent. Moreover, BIS certification will be implemented from September 2026, and this will significantly improve the quality of products.
What will be the impact of exemptions given?
Exemptions from the new norms are given to protect the interest of power producers who have already signed up for power supply price. The exemption is justified as the supply prices are already locked in. However, this is applicable only to projects getting commissioned in next three years. In projects for which bids have been placed are eligible for exemption subject to commissioning in three years from the issue of new norms.
New Wind Turbine Manufacturers/New Models, as per SOP, are exempted up to 800 MW for two years from the date of listing in ALMM (Wind). A component sourcing portal will be developed to monitor the manufacturing and supply of wind turbines, and all listed wind turbine manufacturers must register and submit data through this portal. Manufacturers and models enlisted under this exemption are also required to submit quarterly progress reports and failure to submit may lead to delisting of the respective model.
Will setting up R&D and localisation of data centres push up cost?
This will get evened out if companies are looking at India on a long-term basis. The government is talking of having about 100 GW by 2030 and even higher capacity by 2047. This is going to be a huge opportunity for local manufacturer. Many companies which are eyeing short-term gains may not enter India. Some of the European players have been here for decades. Though their products are good, they lost out in domestic market because they were not cost competitive compared to cheaper imports. Most of these companies are now exporting to other markets. The R&D and data centre localisation will be an issue for European and the US companies.
Published on August 7, 2025
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