India: Gujarat to Develop Tidal Energy Project

Government of State of Gujarat announced its plans to develop tidal energy project to determine its potential for meeting state’s rising energy demands, reports Power Engineering.

With state’s huge potential and longest coast, Gujarat is set to become a renewable energy hub.

According to sources in the state energy and petrochemicals department, the state is all set to bring India on the list of global frontrunners producing power from tidal waves.

The best placed for the tidal energy development are Gulf of Kutch and the Gulf of Khambhat.

In January the state government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Atlantis Resources Corporation for setting up a tidal power project in the Gulf of Kutch.

An official at GPCL, Rajkumar Raisinghani, stated that the installation of the project may begin anytime in 2012.

He said that Atlantis has completed the construction of turbine in Scotland which is in the testing phase. The turbine with a rotor blade of around 18-metres would weigh anywhere from 15-18 tonnes, and right testing needs to be performed before bringing it to the site for assembly.

He added that the company is also seeking for some financial assistance from government.

Power Engineering quoted Rajkumar Raisinghani as saying: “As per the survey conducted by Government of India and the latest one by Atlantis, there is immense potential in Gujarat and other parts of the country. Since this is a nascent industry, and there is no other equipment manufacturer except Atlantis, a careful planning and policy may lead to an environment wherein around 40 per cent of equipment could be manufactured in India itself bringing down the cost of the overall project.”

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Offshore WIND staff, April 20, 2012; Image: Atlantis Resources