Udupi :

Even as the world looks to generate power from alternative energy sources, environmentalist and engineer Vijay Kumar Hegde, head of the Susi Global Research Centre, Udupi has successfully generated power from tidal energy through his small projects after 30 years of dedicated effort. He recently got a patent for his power plant design.

Hegde said, “With government approval, a single commercial plant will be set up within two years to produce 10MW. The project costs around Rs 6 crore per MW and it’s the lowest compared to hydro, thermal or nuclear plants. It’ll be one of the world’s most cost-effective power project. Udupi has a 360-km coastal belt, of which 60km is a thickly populated area used for fishermen. However, a 300-km stretch is free and even if half of that,150 km, is used for tide plantation, 15,000MW can be generated. The state requires 3,000MW additional energy. The proposed plant will have the capacity to distribute power for less than Rs 5 per unit to the government.”

The sea waves are continuous in motion with no pause in their movement so expected power capacity is 100 plus. The proposed plant produces much greater amount of energy at a lesser cost. He has plans to set up five small plants with the same design. Two have already been installed and in January, a third plant will be installed, and the others will be installed within three months. A fifth plant will generate highest capacity of 100kW power.

It is a clean energy project, without artificial dam, turbines and minimal transmission loss.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The  Times of India / News Home> Hubballi / TNN / December 03rd, 2015