India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is planning to ban the sharing of operational data from wind energy projects with foreign entities, including China, due to growing national security concerns.
This move follows recommendations from National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and the policy think tank NITI Aayog. A formal notification is expected within the next three weeks.
For better control over data, the government will introduce a new rule that requires all data and research centers related to renewable energy projects to be set up inside India.
Companies will have six months to follow this rule. Some foreign wind turbine makers have requested a more flexible deadline, but the government seems firm on sticking to the current plan.
This decision comes as India is paying more attention to keeping its energy systems safe from cyberattacks. Wind turbines are controlled by systems that are always sending data to power companies, which makes them easy targets for hackers.
In May, during a big cybersecurity effort called “Operation Sindoor,” Indian officials said they stopped nearly 2 lakh cyberattacks targeting the power sector. This shows how important it is to improve data safety.
Indian wind turbine company Suzlon supported the government’s decision. CEO JP Chalasani said these cybersecurity steps were needed for a long time and mentioned that Suzlon already follows the new rules. He also said it’s very important to protect wind project data because it is now a valuable national asset.
Some foreign companies have already started adjusting to the new policy. Chinese-owned Envision Energy, for example, relocated its data control center from China to India in late 2024.
This step shows that foreign companies are starting to follow India’s new security rules. Overall, this policy shows a big change in how India handles important energy data and highlights the government’s push to make its energy systems secure from cyberattacks.
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