US company Oscilla Power has entered the planning stages of a 1MW demonstration of its ocean wave energy system off the coast of southern India.
The pilot of the Triton device is planned for a location adjacent to Vizhinjam International Seaport, near Thiruvanathapuram, in the state of Kerala.
The region has been identified as having one of the highest wave energy levels in India.
Oscilla Power is seeking the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s (MNRE) support for its 1MW pilot, as a research, development and demonstration (RD&D) project.
In 2019 MNRE confirmed wave energy is eligible for renewable purchase obligations (RPOs).
Kerala’s Agency for New and Renewable Energy (ANERT) will lead implementation of the project, while Dr Jayakumar, chief executive of Vizhinjam International Seaport, will act as principle investigator.
Senior researchers from the Department of Ocean Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras (Chennai) will also participate in the proposed pilot.
Oscilla Power president Balky Nair said: “A rapidly growing energy market, attractive local manufacturing costs, an energetic west coast, and a central government that is championing a transition to renewable energy options make India a very attractive location for early wave energy projects.”
Around 5-10GW of wave energy capacity can be exploited off the coast of India, said Oscilla.
The Seattle-based company is finishing construction of a smaller 100kW version of its Triton wave energy converter, which is expected to be installed in Hawaii next year.