During the monsoon there may be less sunlight because of cloud cover, but wind, waves and ocean currents are stronger. During the non-monsoon period, solar generation increases while wave and current energy may reduce. Together, these systems complement one another and provide a more reliable source of renewable energy,” Singh said.
The pilot project is expected to come up off the South Goa coast, where wind conditions are considered more favourable than in other parts of the state. The platform will be anchored offshore using mooring systems while retaining flexibility to adapt to changing sea conditions.
A prototype is expected to be ready within a year.
“We are very excited about this project. The pilot version should be visible within a year, although several engineering challenges remain,” Singh said.
He said that designing a structure capable of withstanding rough seas remains one of the key challenges.
“If the platform is completely rigid, powerful waves and strong winds could damage it. Future designs will allow the structure to flex and adapt to changing sea conditions,” the CSIR-NIO director said.
Initially, researchers will test a smaller platform, which may be shifted closer to the coast during severe monsoon for safety. In the long term, however, the team aims to develop a permanently deployed system capable of operating throughout the year.
Singh said future versions of the platform could incorporate offshore hydrogen production units. Instead of transmitting electricity to shore through expensive subsea cables, the power generated offshore could be used to produce green hydrogen directly on the platform.
The concept involves desalinating seawater and using renewable electricity to generate green hydrogen, which can then be stored and transported for industrial and energy applications. “Hydrogen is a future energy carrier. Rather than bringing electricity to shore transmission cables, we may produce hydrogen directly at sea,” he further said.
