(a) The details of the functions of the Institute for Ocean Development;
(b) The schemes for development in or around the shores of Arabian Sea, Indian
Ocean and Bay of Bengal; and
(c) The details of the Projects undertaken for generating electricity from Ocean?
MINISTER FOR OCEAN DEVELOPMENT (DR. MURLI MANOHAR JOSHI)
(a) There is no Institute by the name Institute for Ocean Development under this
Department.
(b) The Department of Ocean Development is a S&T department promoting R&D in
ocean science and technology. The Department has no development schemes in or
around the shores of Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal.
(c) A project was undertaken for generation of electricity from the waves A
National Test facility was established by the DOD at Vizhinjam harbour in
Kerala for technology development and demonstration of wave energy conversion
device. This plant had an installed capacity of 55 KW(peak) Valuable scientific
data was generated from the operation of the plant. It was found that the wave
energy plants may not be immediately commercially viable.
Since India is a tropical country with a large coast line and temperature
difference between the warm surface sea water and the deeper cold sea water,
there is a potential for tapping this differential for energy conversion. A 1 MW
(gross) Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion , Technology demonstration floating
pilot scale power plant is being set up off the east coast of India.