The looming climate change threat is likely to cast a shadow on the renewable energy ambitions of various States in the country due to the increase in cloud cover and decrease in high velocity winds.
A recent study by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Ministry of Earth Sciences, Pune, reveals that seasonal and annual wind speed is likely to decrease over North India and increase along South India. On the other hand, solar radiation is estimated to decrease (10–15 Wm–2) over the next 50 years during all seasons.
As part of the study, the researchers have created climate simulations for the past 55 years and future projections for 55 years from six models for the analysis. The model indicates that the wind potential over the onshore regions shows an increasing trend, while offshore regions show a decreasing trend for the non-monsoon months.
