The National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) has put forward a proposal to build a jetty both for itself and for wind energy companies to deploy offshore projects in the Gulf of Mannar. This was announced at the second UK India Offshore Wind Summit, held in Chennai on 10 March, 2023.

NIWE plans to put up two ‘offshore’ wind turbines, which would be pile-founded into a piece of land which has offshore wind conditions. Apart from the 20 MW project, NIWE also intends to start a ‘national offshore wind test centre’.

The proposal envisages the construction of a 600 mtrs-long jetty, wherein the sea-end of the jetty would be 100-mtrs with a 12-mtrs-wide ‘berthing jetty’, while the remaining portion of it would be ‘approach jetty’.

The move may gain traction as activities related to offshore wind projects are anticipated in the region. It will also enable wind companies to transport materials from the Tuticorin port and ‘dump’ them on the jetty, prior to moving them to the site.

NIWE is in the process of submitting the proposal to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), seeking Rs 400 crore for building the jetty.