Abstract
A major share of the global energy demand is currently met by fossil fuels. However, environmental concerns and dwindling reserves have necessitated a progressive shift toward renewable energy. Ranked fourth globally in wind power installed capacity, India plans to implement a new wind farm design in Anjugramam, Tamil Nadu. The present study provides a novel, systematic pre-installation feasibility assessment for this specific, sanctioned onshore wind farm, focusing on the deployment of large, utility-scale onshore turbines (Siemens SWT-4.0–120), an area that is not adequately explored in the Indian context compared to studies on smaller, localized applications. The assessment considers turbine placement, space, and environmental impacts, and a modern simulation package like WindPro software is employed. Key parameters, including wind strength, energy output, noise distribution, shadow flicker, visual impact, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, are evaluated. For the proposed Anjugramam wind farm comprising two 4 MW Siemens onshore wind turbines, the study projects an annual energy production (AEP) of 43,388.1 MWh. This level of clean energy generation is estimated to achieve an annual GHG emission reduction of 22,822.14 tonnes of CO2 equivalent compared to conventional energy sources. Noise modeling indicated levels between 55–58 dB within the wind farm array, and zone of visual influence (ZVI) analysis showed that at least one turbine would be visible from 91.8% of the surrounding viewpoints. Further economic analysis projects a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for the wind farm at approximately ¢2.42–2.64/kWh (excluding monetized carbon benefits), which is found competitive against existing benchmark biomass LCOE studies. This study contributes a technology-driven framework designed for broader applicability in assessing the viability of similar wind energy projects, aimed at optimizing larger turbine deployment for maximized regional energy output while minimizing negative impacts, thereby offering a transferable approach beyond singular site-specific studies.