The potential of wind energy in India and States like Tamil Nadu have been taken too lightly, Mr. GM Pillai, director feneral of World Institute of Sustainable Energy, said.

Speaking to media members at a curtain raiser event on Wind Power India 2012, Mr. Pillai said that assessments of wind energy potential across India averaged at more than 3 lakh MW, significantly up from the prevailing 45,000 MW. Wind Power India 2012 is a three-day exhibition and seminar slated to start on 28th of November.

According to a study by the World Institute of Sustainable Energy, Tamil Nadu's wasteland alone has a potential to generate more than 35,000 MW of wind power, against existing 6,000 MW.

Mr. Pillai added that appropriate policies could help bring wind energy to the mainstream to augment conventional power.

Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association's president, Mr. Ramesh Kymal, said that the targeted additions to power capacity could be achieved using domestic production. But, he added that appropriate policies were required to encourage investors to invest in wind energy.

Reports also suggest that the generation-based incentive (GBI), which expired on March 31, 2012, will be re-introduced soon. Reports suggest that the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy would offer a GBI of 82 paise per unit, up from the previous 50 paise.

Experts believe that wind energy is commercially viable and can play a crucial role in the achievement of the Central Government's target of producing 60,000 MW of renewable energy by the year of 2020.