India’s Bharat Forge is entering the wind-energy market. According to the Pune-based auto-components manufacturer, it will be supplying critical wind-turbine components for Tata Power, which is erecting 10-MW power plants in Maharashtra. Bharat Forge has set up dedicated facilities at Mundhwa, Pune and Baramati for non-automotive components. While the Pune plant has a 4,000-metric-ton open-die press with a capacity to produce 60,000 metric tons/year, the Baramati plant has an 80-metric-ton hammer and a ring-rolling facility capable of manufacturing 70,000 metric tons/year. Last year, non-automotive business made up 21% of Bharat Forge’s consolidated revenues. It has targeted to incease that figure to 40% by 2011-2012 to reduce its dependence on the automotive sector.

Bharat Forge also plans to make specialized products for aerospace, railways, marine, conventional and non-conventional energy, oil and gas, and construction-equipment markets. Tata Power, India's largest private-sector power utility, has an installed generation capacity of over 2,300 MW. Its expansion plans include the 4,000-MW ultra-mega power project at Mundra in Gujarat and the 1,000-MW thermal-power project at Maithon. Similar power plants are in being planned in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal.