GAIL (India) Ltd will invest Rs 17,362.5 million (mn) to set up a 178.2 megawatt (MW) wind power project in Maharashtra, strengthening its renewable energy portfolio. The board approved the investment and the company expects the project to be completed within 24 months from the award of the contract. The addition aims to expand capacity and support the company's transition towards lower carbon operations.\n\nThe new capacity will add to the company's existing wind portfolio of 117.95 MW and complement 27 MW of solar projects spread across Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. GAIL's wind power assets are currently located in Gujarat at 19.2 MW, in Karnataka at 38.1 MW and in Tamil Nadu at 60.65 MW. The Maharashtra project will therefore represent a significant incremental increase in installed wind capacity.\n\nThe company has set a target to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2035 for Scope one and Scope two emissions and by 2040 for Scope three emissions, and plans to increase renewable energy capacity up to three point four gigawatt (GW) by the year 2035. Investment in this project is part of a broader strategy that includes development of green hydrogen and compressed biogas projects to align with national energy objectives. The move reflects an emphasis on diversifying clean energy investments alongside traditional gas and LPG businesses.\n\nGAIL is India's largest natural gas transmission and marketing company and operates an extensive network of natural gas pipelines across the country, while also owning an LPG portfolio and petrochemical plants in Pata in Uttar Pradesh and in Assam. The Maharashtra wind project is intended to contribute to the firm's renewable capacity targets and is expected to be commissioned within the stated two year timeline. The company will integrate the additional generation with its existing operations to advance its decarbonisation plans.