NEW DELHI, April 28 -- The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has notified new design requirements for offshore wind turbines, blades, and tower and foundation structures, in line with International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards, according to two government officials aware of the development. The new standards aim to establish clear benchmarks for the design, testing and installation of key components of wind energy systems, particularly in offshore conditions where operational risks are higher. "These norms would ensure structural safety, improve quality control and enhance the reliability of wind installations," said one of the two officials. "By aligning with IEC-based standards, the move ensures global compatibility and is expected to facilitate greater participation from international players, while supporting technology transfer and investment in the sector," the official added. This comes as India pushes to scale up its offshore wind sector, which has an estimated potential of 70 gigawatts (GW), enough to power nearly 70 million households. The country aims to auction about 37GW of offshore capacity by 2029-30. Offshore wind projects cost around Rs.15-20 crore per megawatt (MW), significantly higher than Rs.7-8 crore per MW for onshore projects, due to the need for seabed infrastructure and transmission systems. However, offshore projects offer higher energy generation. The push is significant as India, among the world's largest greenhouse gas emitters after the US and China, seeks to lower tariffs by leveraging scale along its 11,098km coastline. Land acquisition challenges have also slowed onshore wind expansion, adding urgency to offshore development. Queries emailed to the BIS and the department of consumer affairs remained unanswered....