The wind maps that tell developers where India’s next turbines should go are drawn in Chennai. The National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE), set up in 1998 by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, runs its headquarters from a 5.3-acre campus on the Velachery-Tambaram road at Pallikaranai, beside the marshland.
It was earlier known as the Centre for Wind Energy Technology, or C-WET. Today it certifies turbine designs, keeps the national list of approved models, runs a test station in southern Tamil Nadu and acts as the government’s technical agency for offshore wind, which matters a great deal for the state’s coast.
The numbers NIWE produces
NIWE has put up more than 900 wind-monitoring stations across India and has published potential maps at heights from 50 m to 150 m above ground, the MNRE wind overview says. Those maps are the basis for the official potential figures below.
| Measure | Figure | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| India’s gross wind potential at 150 m | 1,163.9 GW | MNRE / PIB, 2026 |
| India’s gross wind potential at 120 m | 695.5 GW | MNRE / PIB, 2026 |
| Tamil Nadu potential at 150 m | 95.1 GW | MNRE wind overview |
| Tamil Nadu potential at 120 m | 68.75 GW | MNRE wind overview |
| India’s installed wind capacity | 56.09 GW | PIB, March 2026 |
| Capacity added in 2025-26 | 6.05 GW | PIB, 2026 |
The PIB backgrounder for Global Wind Day 2026 adds that installed capacity stood at 21.04 GW in March 2014, that a further 28 GW is under implementation, and that the national target is 100 GW of wind by 2030. It also notes that about 45% of wind generation happens during peak demand hours, which is one reason grid managers value it.
Kayathar test station and turbine certification
NIWE’s Wind Turbine Test Station at Kayathar in Thoothukudi district was built with technical and partial financial support from Danida, the Danish development agency, according to the institute’s background page. The site covers more than 55 acres, about two hours’ drive from Madurai, and is used for performance and load measurements on full-size machines.
Back in Chennai, the certification division issues type certificates for turbines under the IS/IEC 61400-22 standard, and the standards division maintains the revised list of turbine models and manufacturers that developers rely on. NIWE also calibrates pyranometers and pyrheliometers, the instruments used to measure sunlight, and recently announced that this calibration service has resumed.
Offshore wind off the Tamil Nadu coast
Under the National Offshore Wind Energy Policy of 2015, NIWE is the nodal agency that demarcates offshore blocks and helps obtain clearances from other ministries. The Union government has approved viability gap funding of ₹6,853 crore for 1,000 MW of offshore projects, half off Gujarat and half off Tamil Nadu, the PIB document says.
NIWE’s home page currently lists a draft report on community engagement in offshore wind zones in Tamil Nadu, open for public comments. Fishing communities and residents along the southern coast who want a say should read it there and send comments by the stated date. The page also carries a request for selection for allocating seabed lease rights for offshore wind projects.
Training, internships and data
The skill development division runs national and international courses. The 31st National Training Course on Wind Energy Technology is scheduled for 3 to 5 February 2027, according to the home page. NIWE also offers apprenticeship training and an internship programme for undergraduate and postgraduate students, and publishes a quarterly newsletter called PAVAN. A skilling scheme for technicians, called Vayumitra, is listed among current programmes.
Wind and solar data from NIWE’s monitoring stations can be bought through a data-sale page on its website. Landowners near proposed turbine sites can also request elevation certificates used in defence no-objection applications.
How Tamil Nadu compares
Tamil Nadu is a pioneer wind state, but on raw potential at 150 m it trails several others. The PIB document lists Rajasthan at 284.2 GW, Gujarat at 180.8 GW, Maharashtra at 173.9 GW and Karnataka at 169.3 GW, against Tamil Nadu’s 95.1 GW. What the state has that most others lack is a seabed off its southern coast that the Centre has already picked for offshore leasing, alongside Gujarat.
On manufacturing, the same document puts India’s turbine-making capacity at about 24 GW a year as of March 2026, up from 10 GW in 2014, with 70 to 80% of key components made locally. The national target beyond 2030 is 156 GW of wind by 2036.
Quick answers
Where is NIWE in Chennai?
On Velachery-Tambaram Main Road at Pallikaranai, about 15 km from the city centre, next to the marshland.
Is NIWE the same as C-WET?
Yes. The Centre for Wind Energy Technology, set up in 1998, now operates as the National Institute of Wind Energy under MNRE.
How much wind potential does Tamil Nadu have?
NIWE’s assessment puts it at 95.1 GW at 150 m hub height and 68.75 GW at 120 m.
Can students intern at NIWE?
Yes. UG and PG students can apply under its internship programme; check the training calendar for 2026-27 on the website.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
