Indian Institute technology Researchers at Madras (IIT Madras) have developed an ‘Ocean Wave Energy Converter’ that can generate electricity from ocean waves. The test of this equipment was successfully completed during the second week of November 2022.
The device was deployed at a depth of 20 m, about 6 km off the coast of Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu. The device aims to generate 1MW of electricity from ocean waves in the next three years.
“The success of this project will help meet several objectives such as the United Nations Ocean Decade and Sustainable Development Goals. India’s goals include achieving deep water missions, clean energy and blue economy. It can help India meet its climate change related targets of generating 500 GW of electricity by 2030 through renewable energy,” claimed the institute in its release.
The device is targeted towards remote offshore locations that require reliable power and communications, either by supplying electrical power to payloads that are located directly in or around the device or on the seabed and in the water column are located. The target stakeholders are the oil and gas, defense and security establishments and the communications sector.
Professor Abdus Samad of IIT Madras, who has been working on wave energy for over a decade, is leading the mission. He established a state-of-the-art ‘Wave Energy and Fluids Engineering Laboratory’ (WEFEL) at IIT Madras. His team designed and tested a scaled-down model. The lab is also researching other applications for this technology such as generating power for small instruments for the ocean such as navigation buoys and data buoys, among others.
Highlighting the impact of this project, Professor Abdus Samad, Department of Ocean Engineering, IIT Madras, said, “India has a coastline of 7,500 km capable of generating 54 GW of electricity, which can meet a substantial amount of the country’s energy requirement. fulfills. Sea water stores tidal, wave and ocean thermal energy. Out of them, it is possible to harness 40GW wave energy in India.
Furthermore, Professor Abdus Samad said, “Even single devices in various locations along the Indian coastline can generate large amounts of clean energy. We are also considering placing multiple instruments in an array configuration for maximum wave power extraction from the location. Our vision is to make India sustainable by harnessing ocean energy and net zero carbon emissions to reduce climate impact.
This project received funding support through the ‘Innovative Research Project’ of IIT Madras, TBI-KIET under the DST fund-endeavor scheme and the Australian Alumni Grant Scheme 2022 by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Government.
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