India picks up pace in ocean energy development

 
India is making progress on the development of ocean renewable energy projects, especially in the field of ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC).

In the latest update on its member states, Ocean Energy System (OES) said India is investigating BBDB, a floating device with an L-shaped oscillating water column (OWC).

Recently, a new research and development project has been approved with the aim of developing a two-way impulse turbine and testing it on this device in the open sea.

The work will be conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai, according to OES.

Furthermore, the Government of India made OTEC a priority in India, OES informed, by including the plans to build an OTEC plant to power a 100 m3/day desalination plant in Kavaratti in its new Financing Program (2017-2020).

In addition, the Indian Navy is investigating the feasibility of an OTEC plant in Andamans in the Bay of Bengal, with the technical support of National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT).

India joined OES early in 2016, gaining access to advanced research & development teams and technologies across the world.

OES, also known as the Technology Collaboration Program on Ocean Energy Systems is an intergovernmental collaboration between countries, operating under a framework established by the International Energy Agency, with the aim to advance the global development of ocean renewable energy sector.