Energy dev agency to generate energy from ocean waves

Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (Meda), the state government agency for the development of renewable energy, is increasing its R&D spend to develop unconventional new sources of renewable energy, Mahesh Zagade, director General, Meda, has said.

As per Meda's 11th Five Year Plan, an investment of Rs 27,000 crore from the private sector is required to generate around 6,000 Mw of renewable energy from the existing technologies like wind, bagasse from sugarcane, municipal solid waste, and small hydro.

Besides the existing technologies, Meda is looking at harnessing renewable energies from geo thermal, tidal waves, ocean bodies and solar.

"We are initiating pilots and R&D projects with technologies that can be implemented in these areas," Zagade told Business Standard.

Last year, Sangli-based Apar Urja Ltd successfully completed the laboratory model for energy generation from ocean and sea waves. It is now developing the technology at the Konkan coast in Guhagar, Ratnagiri district. "The R&D for the technology will be completed by May at an investment of Rs 40 lakh, after which a pilot project will be undertaken at an investment of Rs 3-4 crore. The project will generate 15-20 kilo watt of power," he said.

A study of the wave nature has shown that there is potential of 40,000 Mw along the Indian coast. Maharashtra has a costal belt stretching 720 kilometre. Studies have indicated that Vengurla, Malvan, Redi, Pawas, Ratnagiri and Girye are the potential sites which can generate around 500 Mw for tidal energy plant, according to Meda.

Meda is also initiating an R&D project for producing compressed biogas to be filled in cylinders like compressed natural gas (CNG). Biogas has 65 per cent methane and the rest is other gases like carbon dioxide, which are difficult to compress. To compress biogas, methane needs to be purified to 95 per cent. Meda is partnering Pune-based Mailhem Technologies for the R&D of this project. "The project will commence next month and will take 12 months to complete at a cost of Rs 2 crore," said Zagade.

This is the first time that the state body has undertaken R&D projects and it has also submitted a proposal to the government for a policy on R&D. "Once the policy is announced, we will look at more such developmental projects," he said.

The state currently produces around 1,600 Mw of power using non-conventional ways like wind energy.

However, this accounts for only 1.09 per cent of the total power consumption in the state at 82,0000 million units.

According to the guidelines of Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (Merc) issued in August 2006, the state should take the total generation of renewable energy to six per cent of the total consumption by 2010, else the energy distribution houses would be penalised.