Examine the potential of wind energy in India and explain the reasons for their limited spatial spread.

Wind is used to produce electricity using the kinetic energy created by air in motion. This is transformed into electrical energy using wind turbines or wind energy conversion systems.

Potential of Wind Energy in India as per Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC):

1. India currently has 13.4 GW of prospective projects in wind energy, which are expected to drive installations until 2024 in the market. 
2. India is expected to add 3.2 GW in 2022, 4.1 GW in 2023 peaking to 4.6 GW in 2024, thereafter declining to 4 GW and 3.5 GW in the next two years. 
3. It is found by the National Institute for Wind Energy (based in Chennai) that western states have larger potential in terms of a stable, steady and a speedy wind flow starting from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka to Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Tamil Nadu is the largest producer of wind energy producing 9,075MW in 2019. 

Reasons for Limited Spatial Spread:

• Eastern Coast of India is frequently affected by the cyclones hence it is difficult to harness their full potential. 
• Static air mass in the northern part of country makes it difficult to harness the wind energy. 
• It requires minimum interference but due to the dense population, very large open areas are not common. E.g.: Mumbai and Chennai- High populated. 
• Acquisition of land and pressure on land use. E.g.: Land is state subject. 
• Competition with other renewable forms of energy like solar energy which are easier to harness.

Hence, National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy, 2018 and National Offshore Wind Energy Policy, 2015 with EEZ along with Indian coastline are sustained and increase growth in wind-based generation capacity, policymakers need to streamline the procedures to grant permits, including land allocation and grid connection projects.