The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is seeking public feedback on proposed amendments to the Offshore Wind Energy Lease Rules, 2023. This circular was issued on September 26, 2024.
It may be recalled that these rules were originally notified in December 19, 2023. They sought to regulate the leasing of offshore areas for wind energy projects.
The amendments aim to streamline the leasing process and provide clarity on key aspects. Here’s a summary of the proposed changes:
The draft amendment redefines the terms “Lease” and “Offshore Wind Energy Project”
The draft also proposes that the process for identifying suitable offshore areas and selecting lessees will be aligned with the National Offshore Wind Energy Policy.
Conditions of Lease
Additionally, specific clearances from relevant ministries are now explicitly required before granting a lease. These include the following Ministries:
- Defence,
- Home Affairs,
- External Affairs,
- Environment, Forest and Climate Change,
- Department of Space and
- Ports, Shipping and Waterways
The lease period for construction and operation of offshore wind energy projects is extended to 35 years, with potential for case-by-case extensions based on project viability and safety.
The lessee cannot transfer or assign lease rights or covered areas without written consent from the Central Government.
The lessee must comply with technical standards and instructions issued by the Central Government concerning project development and operation.
The MNRE invites stakeholders to submit comments and suggestions on the proposed amendments. Feedback should be submitted by October 11, 2024 to rishikesh.mnre@gov.in.
