As per the National Offshore Wind Energy Policy issued in October 2015, NIWE is the nodal Agency for facilitating clearances for studies/ surveys and offshore wind power development.

In continuation to the issuance of ‘Guidelines for Offshore Wind Power Assessment Studies and Surveys’ (and amendment) by this Ministry vide OM No.225/3/2018-Wind-Part (2), MNRE has prepared and published the “Strategy Paper on the Establishment of Offshore Wind Energy Projects" to achieve a target of 30 GW by 2030. As per the strategy paper, MNRE has proposed three models, as detailed below:

• Model A (VGF Model): This approach will be followed for demarcated offshore wind zones for which MNRE/NIWE has carried out or proposed to carry out detailed studies/surveys. Presently, part of identified Zone B3 (365 Sq.km) equivalent to 0.5 GW off the coast of Gujarat and 0.5 GW equivalent site off TN coast will be considered in phase-1 of this model.
• Model B (Non-VGF but with exclusivity over seabed during the study/survey): This approach will be followed for sites identified by NIWE. Proposed offshore wind sites demarcated within identified zones would be allocated to the developer on a lease basis. Under this model developer shall carry out detailed studies/surveys followed by development of offshore wind farm project.
• Model C (Non-VGF and without exclusivity over seabed during the study/survey period): In this model, Developer may identify any offshore wind site within the EEZ excluding the sites considered under Model-A & Model-B and carry out studies and surveys. The government will come up with bid for project development/allocation of the seabed.

NIWE has developed the On-line web portal to ease the process of NOC/ on-line clearances for studies/ surveys and development of the offshore wind farm. The web portal is aimed at facilitating the prospective developers for submission of applications online for grant of clearance/ No Objection Certificate (NoC) for initiating the studies and surveys at the designated offshore wind blocks and development of the project under the above said models.

The automated/online system will help in reducing the time, bringing in more transparency, accuracy and speedy disposal of applications for grant of NoC by the respective Ministries/ State departments.