The Hindu : Project to produce power from ocean ready

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 28, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Project to produce power from ocean ready

By Our Staff Correspondent

Udupi April 27. Harsh K. Gupta, Secretary, Department of Ocean Development, said here on Sunday that the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) had prepared a pilot project to produce one MW of power through Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC).

He told presspersons that the project was the first of its kind in the world. It would be launched in Tuticorin in September or October.

The department had been working on producing energy from the ocean. Since the surface temperature of water was 25 degrees centigrade, and the temperature of the water at the depth of one km. in the ocean was two or three degrees centigrade, turbines could be used for generating power, and this had resulted in OTEC.

Presently, the data on monsoons was not accurate. The Department of Ocean Development would enter into an agreement with the Department of Science and Technology and the Indian Meteorological Department so that there would be proper forecasting, he said. The oceans were the driving force for monsoon. The INCOIS would put up new floating observation platforms in the Indian Ocean. These floats, which go two km. deep into the ocean, would help in improving the ocean circulation modules. This would assist in data compilation once in 10 days. Some 350 to 400 floats were required in the Indian Ocean. Of these, India had the responsibility to set up 150 floats.

The data from these floats would be transmitted to INCOIS at Hyderabad, where it would be deciphered and distributed to other countries. This called for the formation of the Indian Ocean GOOS (Global Ocean Observation System). The GOOS concept gained currency in early 1990s because no single nation could take care of an entire ocean. GOOS bodies for the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, and the Caribbean Sea had already been formed.

The Indian Ocean GOOS was formed in 2001. A conference was held in Mauritius in November 2002, where 30 institutions from the Indian Ocean rim countries signed an agreement. India was chairing the Indian Ocean GOOS for the next six years and its secretariat was in Hyderabad, Mr. Gupta said.

The Union and State governments were working to help fishermen.

Around 10 digital display boards providing information on availability of fish had been installed at fishing harbours. As many as 60 digital display boards would be installed at major fishing harbours in the country.

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