The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued a formal directive urging wind project developers to immediately place work orders for the installation of remote-controlled Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems at all earmarked Indian Air Force (IAF) stations.
The directive follows concerns raised by the IAF over delays in deploying SCADA-based remote-control systems, which are mandatory under the Ministry of Defence (MoD) conditions attached to No Objection Certificates (NOCs) issued for wind and solar power projects.
According to the MoD stipulations,wind turbine generators (WTGs) can interfere with the performance of air defence radars by generating Doppler signatures resembling actual aircraft, leading to spurious plots or tracks. To address this risk, wind turbines must be capable of being remotely switched off during war, contingencies, or operational activities, as and when required by the IAF.
To comply with this requirement, MNRE has reiterated that wind projects must ensure the installation of SCADA-based remote-control systems at all designated IAF stations, with full functionality to remotely shut down WTGs.
The Ministry stated that despite several reminders and discussions at various meetings, including a dedicated meeting held in November following communication from the IAF, many developers have yet to place the required work orders for SCADA implementation. MNRE has therefore classified the installation of these systems as a Top Priority.
Seeking immediate compliance, MNRE has directed wind project developers to submit an implementation schedule at the earliest. The Ministry has cautioned that failure to act may result in the revocation of the NOC issued by the MoD, which could effectively halt project operations.
SCADA systems play a critical role in the renewable energy sector by enabling real-time monitoring and control of assets such as wind turbines and solar installations. These systems are essential for monitoring power generation, grid integration, asset maintenance, and for collecting operational data including wind speed, WTG output, and rotor speed.
The Ministry also recalled that in 2020, MNRE had written to original equipment manufacturers and wind project developers operating near the Air Force station at Bhuj, directing them to comply with MoD NOC conditions. The communication addressed concerns over non-functional obstacle lights on wind turbines located in the vicinity of the airbase.
MNRE has reiterated that continued non-compliance with SCADA installation requirements will not be tolerated and could invite strict action under the existing regulatory framework.
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