FCC

JSW to Set Up Wind Turbine Blade Manufacturing Unit in Karnataka

2024-11-29

JSW Energy, led by Sajjan Jindal, is planning to establish a wind turbine blade manufacturing unit in Karnataka. This plant is being set up for the company’s captive use, meaning it will manufacture blades primarily for its own wind energy projects, thereby reducing dependency on imports and ensuring a steady supply of wind turbine generators (WTGs). This move is expected to bring significant cost savings in renewable energy projects, which typically involve hefty investments—around $50 million—to assemble 400-500 turbines annually.

JSW operates its 12.5 million tonnes per annum steel manufacturing unit in Vijayanagar, Karnataka, where surplus land is available for the new WTG manufacturing facility. Additionally, the company runs a 225 MW solar power plant near Vijayanagar, primarily for the use of its steel plant. Earlier this year, JSW Renewable Technologies, a subsidiary of JSW Neo Energy, entered into a licensing agreement with China's Sany Renewable Energy for the production of 3.6 MW wind turbine generators in India.

Despite this partnership, JSW Energy has opted to procure 4 MW WTGs from Sany, and discussions about purchasing 5 MW turbines are currently in the preliminary stages. This development aligns with the growing demand for larger turbines, as many sites in India are more suited to 3-4 MW turbines, but constraints often push companies to choose larger units like 5 MW turbines.