Vestas has landed its largest ever order in India, a 252MW engineering, procurement and construction deal for a unit of French energy giant Engie.

The Danish group will build and equip the project in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, using its V120-2.0 MW turbines.

The wind farm, developed by Engie subsidiary Vivid Solaire Energy, won a power deal as part of inter-state auctions run by the Indian government.

The deal is a boost for the world’s largest supplier of onshore wind turbines in a market where – unusually for Vestas – it has been playing catch-up with rivals.

Vestas inaugurated a new blade plant in Gujarat early in 2017 as it ramped up again in the Indian market, following a spell of low-key activity since 2012 when it became entangled with legal issues.

Like others active in India, it saw the market stall last year amid a difficult transition from tariff-based to competitive procurement.

However, national and state-level tenders are now delivering significant volumes – although commentators have questioned whether they can meet India’s national goal of 60GW in 2022, up from 35GW now, given various challenges that have emerged.

While discussing the OEM’s last quarterly financial results, Vestas CEO Anders Runevad said the Indian market is subject to “a lot of volatility” in the short term because of delayed auctions and grid issues.

But Runevad added: “I definitely believe in the Indian market. I think all the basics are in place – its great need for clean energy.

“The growth will come, so I think we have to be a little patient with this market and go through this short-term uncertainty.”

Wind

Vestas gets largest India deal yet with Engie wind project