Indian Navy plans to go green by setting up ocean thermal energy plant at Andaman & Nicobar Islands - The Economic Times
NEW DELHI: The Navy plans to go green by setting up a mega ocean thermal energy plant to power its base in the ecologically sensitive Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The project - which aims to generate 20 MW of power for the naval facilities and the air base on the island - could involve a significant Make in India component with a French collaborator zeroing in on companies including Godrej and Kirloskar for supplies.
The Navy, which has plans to expand infrastructure and presence on the strategically located island chain, has already got a preliminary feasibility study done for the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) plant and has identified two possible locations near Port Blair for the project.
The French collaborator, DCNS, which is also building the Navy's Scorpene submarines, told ET that the OTEC plant could result in the eradication of polluting diesel generator sets that are currently used for power at the naval base. The plant generates power by exploiting the difference in temperature between the ocean's surface and its depths.
"DCNS has performed and presented a pre-feasibility study to the Indian Navy for deploying offshore OTEC plants at Andaman Island. This is to completely stop using diesel-based sources and rely on clean and sustainable energy for naval operations, in the spirit of the green initiative of the Indian Navy," Bernard Buisson, Managing Director of DCNS India, told ET.
The Navy is keen on green energy and had displayed a scale model of the OTEC plant at a recent reception at Navy Chief Admiral RK Dhowan's house, which was also showcased to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"This is one of the initiatives we are looking at for generating clean energy. There are, however, some steps ahead before such a project can be implemented," a top Navy officer told ET.
NEW DELHI: The Navy plans to go green by setting up a mega ocean thermal energy plant to power its base in the ecologically sensitive Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The project - which aims to generate 20 MW of power for the naval facilities and the air base on the island - could involve a significant Make in India component with a French collaborator zeroing in on companies including Godrej and Kirloskar for supplies.
The Navy, which has plans to expand infrastructure and presence on the strategically located island chain, has already got a preliminary feasibility study done for the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) plant and has identified two possible locations near Port Blair for the project.
The French collaborator, DCNS, which is also building the Navy's Scorpene submarines, told ET that the OTEC plant could result in the eradication of polluting diesel generator sets that are currently used for power at the naval base. The plant generates power by exploiting the difference in temperature between the ocean's surface and its depths.
"DCNS has performed and presented a pre-feasibility study to the Indian Navy for deploying offshore OTEC plants at Andaman Island. This is to completely stop using diesel-based sources and rely on clean and sustainable energy for naval operations, in the spirit of the green initiative of the Indian Navy," Bernard Buisson, Managing Director of DCNS India, told ET.
The Navy is keen on green energy and had displayed a scale model of the OTEC plant at a recent reception at Navy Chief Admiral RK Dhowan's house, which was also showcased to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"This is one of the initiatives we are looking at for generating clean energy. There are, however, some steps ahead before such a project can be implemented," a top Navy officer told ET.
