The Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Coimbatore, on behalf of its members, welcomed the amendments to the Repowering Policy 2024, calling them a positive and timely step to strengthen Tamil Nadu’s renewable energy sector and support India’s green energy goals.
The chamber said the revised policy provides clarity and flexibility for Wind Energy Generators (WEGs), especially older windmills. It clearly defines the operational life of turbines as 20 years for WEGs commissioned before 1 April 2016 and 25 years for those commissioned later, providing regulatory certainty and reflecting improvements in technology.
ICCIC particularly appreciated the rationalisation of development charges. Charging fees only on the additional capacity created through repowering, along with a nominal charge on existing capacity, removes a major financial burden on developers. The removal of the earlier mandatory minimum generation increase requirement is another practical change expected to speed up project execution.
The simplified certification process, including relaxed standards for lifetime extension and reliance on OEMs, certified engineers, and CEIG for safety approvals, is expected to reduce delays while maintaining safety and technical reliability.
Other supportive measures include relaxed fall-in distance norms, continuation of annual banking, adjustment of higher-slot to lower-slot energy, and the option to convert projects into wind-solar hybrids with extended must-run status.
These measures will improve grid efficiency and maximise the use of existing infrastructure.
ICCI believes these amendments will restore confidence among wind energy developers, encourage the repowering of ageing wind assets, and reinforce Tamil Nadu’s position as a leader in renewable energy. The chamber also expressed its commitment to continuing dialogue with the Government and the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC).
The chamber noted that the installation of new windmills in Tamil Nadu must be actively encouraged. A supportive, industry-friendly policy framework is essential to facilitate new wind energy projects by providing regulatory clarity, streamlined approvals, and necessary incentives.
Removing hurdles and offering greater policy support will enable faster adoption of green energy by industries, strengthen renewable capacity, and contribute to sustainable industrial growth in the state.
