Why wind turbines and bioenergy are the new power couple of India’s green push

New Delhi: India’s renewable energy landscape is undergoing a quiet but decisive transformation. In recent weeks, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has announced two major policy shifts—one focusing on wind turbine manufacturing norms and the other on bioenergy reforms. Both are meant to deepen India’s clean energy base, reduce import dependence, and ensure that the green transition creates opportunities across industries and communities.

A stronger local footprint in wind power

India has one of the largest installed wind capacities in the world, but the sector has been hampered by low domestic manufacturing utilisation and dependence on imported components. The new norms introduced by MNRE seek to change this balance. From blades and gearboxes to control systems, turbine components will now need to come from government-approved domestic suppliers.This move gives a fresh push to the ‘Make in India’ agenda in renewable energy. With global supply chains often disrupted by geopolitics and price volatility, local sourcing not only secures India’s energy transition but also offers a lifeline to companies like Suzlon and Inox, whose factories are running at less than one-third of their capacity.Another significant reform lies in data localisation. Turbine performance and grid integration data, previously routed to foreign servers, will now be stored within India. While this may sound technical, it carries deep strategic value. Energy data is critical for grid security, and keeping it onshore strengthens India’s ability to manage risks in an increasingly digital power ecosystem.Bioenergy gets a rural and entrepreneurial edgeIf wind represents the big-ticket, industrial side of renewables, bioenergy is the grassroots counterpart. India produces vast amounts of agricultural residue every year, much of which ends up burned in fields, causing pollution and health hazards. MNRE’s bioenergy reforms are designed to flip this narrative by turning waste into fuel.One of the key changes is the removal of rigid two-year contracts for biomass suppliers. For small entrepreneurs and MSMEs, this flexibility opens up a more dynamic market where they can sell pellets and briquettes according to demand. It reduces bureaucratic hurdles and makes bioenergy a more attractive option for rural enterprises.Financial support has also been expanded. The government has earmarked ₹857 crore for setting up new bioenergy plants that can convert agricultural waste into electricity or compressed biogas. Officials believe this will not only provide cleaner alternatives to stubble burning but also create rural employment and decentralised energy hubs. For villages, this means a chance to produce their own power while adding income streams for farmers.

Why these policies matter together

At first glance, wind turbine localisation and bioenergy flexibility may seem like unrelated policy decisions. But together they reflect a broader shift in India’s renewable strategy. On one side, the government is ensuring that capital-intensive projects in wind power reinforce domestic industries and strategic control. On the other, it is empowering smaller players in bioenergy to participate in and benefit from the energy transition.This twin-track approach makes the sector more resilient. It combines the efficiency of industrial-scale manufacturing with the inclusivity of rural entrepreneurship. By doing so, MNRE is not only expanding clean energy capacity but also trying to ensure that its social and economic benefits are widely shared.

The road ahead

India has committed to reaching 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030. While solar power often dominates headlines, the latest policy moves underline the government’s intent to diversify. Wind energy, with its potential to balance solar intermittency, and bioenergy, with its promise of rural upliftment, are both central to this plan.The current reforms are also about ownership. Instead of being a passive buyer of technology, India is aiming to become an active builder—of turbines, of data infrastructure, and of bioenergy ecosystems. The shift is subtle but significant. For millions of people, from factory workers in Gujarat to farmers in Punjab, the renewable story is moving closer to their everyday lives.

The larger message is unmistakable: India’s green future will not just be imported. It will be manufactured in its factories, powered by its farms, and anchored in its communities.