Global wind players deepen localisation in TN

Domestic demand, global trade shifts and the Union government's policy push are accelerating localisation of wind turbine component manufacturing in India, with Tamil Nadu playing a key role. Global original equipment makers and tier-1 suppliers are entering the next phase of localisation, focusing on advanced components as they tap the growing domestic market and diversify supply chains.With more than 20 GW of wind turbine manufacturing capacity, India's wind industry has about 65–70% local content, with towers, blades and nacelles mostly made in India and supported by more than 2,500 MSMEs. Over the past decade, the country has built a strong supplier ecosystem covering major turbine components as well as specialised equipment. Industry estimates suggest India accounts for around 12% of global nacelle manufacturing capacity, 10% of blade capacity, 13% of tower capacity and about 17% of global gearbox manufacturing.The industry is now aiming to raise localisation levels to 85% and beyond as domestic wind installations accelerate and more companies position India as an export hub.Turbine makers are increasingly localising advanced components to strengthen domestic supply chains. Envision Energy, a Chinese-owned global wind turbine manufacturer, plans to raise its localisation in India from about 60% to nearly 80% through partnerships, expanding local production beyond blade and nacelle hubs to critical components such as generators, gearboxes and bearings.Similarly, wind turbine maker Senvion India, owned by Saudi Arabia-based Alfanar, is expanding its manufacturing footprint to serve domestic and export markets. Amit Kansal, CEO and MD of Senvion India, which operates a blade unit in Tamil Nadu, said geopolitical developments have caused at least three disruptions in the last five years. "We cannot afford to have our factories shut down due to the non-availability of imported raw materials at a high level, and therefore, Make in India is no longer a slogan," he said."The localisation content levels have continued to rise for Indian as well as MNC players. OEMs are aligning platform design, supply chains and technology transfer to Indian conditions, delivering greater supply security, faster execution and improved lifecycle economics," he added.Regional manufacturing clusters have played a key role in building this ecosystem. Major OEMs, including Vestas, Siemens Gamesa, and ZF have made Tamil Nadu a base for wind equipment production. ZF has supplied nearly 60GW of wind gearbox capacity to domestic and global markets from its Coimbatore plant and is expanding capabilities from R&D to testing and validation.Similarly, Vinod Shetty, CEO of Flender India, said the company is opening a new component facility at Walaja and developing supplier ecosystems in places like Chennai and Coimbatore. The company, which assembles gearboxes and generators near Chennai, is investing in machining components in India and discussing localisation with raw material suppliers.Francis Jayasurya, director at the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) India, said wind turbine manufacturing localisation has accelerated in the last five years, with global players expanding supplier ecosystems driven by govt mandates and global trade shifts. However, he said casting and forging for some larger turbines and certain advanced materials, including resins for blades, remain limited due to a lack of domestic demand.Policy changes are also reinforcing the localisation push. The Indian govt last year amended procedures for including turbine models in the approved list of models and manufacturers (ALMM).Industry representatives said more electronic components are increasingly being made in Tamil Nadu by players such as Ingeteam. One of the major challenges is the lack of cost competitiveness, making it easier for companies to import. The industry believes viability gap funding or a PLI programme could further improve localisation.