The Wind India 2006 conference cum exhibition which was held on 22-23 August 2006 at Le Meridien, Pune, was the first of its kind event to be organised in the country. Around 200 delegates from 16 different states in the country took part in the conference, while exhibitors from 7 states in the country gathered together to showcase their products and services at the Wind India 2006 exhibition.

Again, for the first time ever, Wind India Awards were presented in 11 different categories, in recognition of the meritorious achievements of the various stakeholders, and the commendable services rendered by them towards development of the wind energy sector. Some of the main awards for the year 2005—06 were bagged by Suzlon Energy Ltd (First Prize for Best Manufacturer and Best Company in Corporate Social Responsibility) while Enercon (India) Ltd took the First Prize for the Best Service Provider among Manufacturers and Best Wind Turbine (500 kW—1 MW). NEG Micon (India) Pvt Ltd bagged the first prize for the Best Wind Turbine (> 1 MW). The first prize for the Best Wind Power Financier went to the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd, with an annual disbursement of Rs.135.57 crore, while the Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Ltd received the first prize in the Best Public Sector Entrant category. Two states received the Best Wind Power Developer State award. These included, Tamil Nadu for total installation (858 MW), and Maharashtra for percentage increase (119.17%).

The conference cum exhibition was inaugurated by the Chief Guest for the event, Vinay Kore, Hon. Minister for Non-conventional Energy, Government of Maharashtra. The other eminent dignitaries who were present at the Inaugural Session included, V Subramanian, Secretary, Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Government of India, who was Chairman of the inaugural session; Dr Mohan Dharia, Chairman of the Organising Committee, Wind India 2006 and former Dy. Chairman, Planning Commission, Government of India and President, Vanarai; G M Pillai, founder Director General, WISE; Chetan Mehra, Co-Chairman, Organising Committee and MD, Weizmann Ltd; and Rajendra Kharul, Organising Secretary, Wind India 2006.

More than 40 eminent speakers from the energy sector, both from the national and international arena, addressed the conference. They included, senior officials from the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Government of India; CMDs, MDs, CEOs, and Directors from the wind power industry; Chairman of Associations; Chairmen and Directors of state electricity regulatory commissions, state electricity boards, state nodal agencies; prominent policy and decision makers; and senior level academicians. The two day event was divided into 6 sessions as follows:

Session 1: CEO’s Forum—Indian Wind Power by 2017

Session 2: Panel Discussion—Integration of wind power with the grid

Session 3: HRD, and R&D for the wind power sector

Session 4: Economics, financing, and market development

Session 5: O&M, supply chain, and efficiency improvements

Session 6: Panel Discussion—Mainstreaming wind power in India

The event concluded with the Valedictory Session, whose Chief Guest was Dr Pramod Deo, Chairman, Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission.