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Could this man solve our energy crisis?

Updated on: 26 December,2010 07:51 AM IST  | 
Yolande D'Mello |

The idea came like a light bulb over his head, recalls IIT Kharagpur student Sharat Kumar. Why not develop a technology that harvests renewable energy from ocean waves and converts it into usable electricity?

Could this man solve our energy crisis?

The idea came like a light bulb over his head, recalls IIT Kharagpur student Sharat Kumar. Why not develop a technology that harvests renewable energy from ocean waves and converts it into usable electricity?


Sharat Kumar at IIT Kharagpur works on a model of the Ocean
Wave Energy Converter.


The device functions as a buoy, anchored to the sea-bed. The rising of the waves causes the float to rise, thereby pulling the plunger out of the spur. The falling of the waves causes the float to fall, thereby pushing the plunger into the spur. The bi-directional motion of the plunger is converted into unidirectional motion by a direct drive mechanism. The unidirectional motion is then used to run a generator which generates electricity.

"As much as 40,000 megawatts of energy can be harnessed from the Indian Ocean. That's enough energy to power 160 million houses," says 26 year-old Kumar, over the phone from Kharagpur.

Kumar, along with friends Sunay Jain and Ankit Jain who have now settled in Delhi and Ranchi respectively, has been working on the Ocean Wave Energy Converter for a few years now. This year, the trio's project came first at IIT Mumbai's Techfest. Having known each other since they were five, they still call and exchange notes on what started off as simply an ambitious school project.

The Ocean Wave Energy Converter transforms the mechanical energy of the ocean waves into electrical energy. This energy can be linked to a grid and subsequently power coastal areas with a renewable source of energy. So, the ocean may soon power your home.

"In school, I was never known for my academics. I loved to paint and whenever we had a competition, the topic would revolve around a greener world to live in. That's how I began thinking about the environment," says Kumar.

After completing his mechanical engineering from Bengaluru, Kumar decided to work full-time on the energy converter while his team-mates pursued further education. They approached Technopreneur Promotion Programme (TePP), an initiative by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research that provides financial support to potential entrepreneurs.

"Following an evaluation of the proposal that was put forward, TePP has agreed to fund the first part of their project due to be tested in 2011," says Punit Saurabh, project officer, regional TePP outreach centre.

Kumar is now working on a prototype that will be ready in February for testing. "Once we test the converter in a simulated ocean environment, we will build the real model which will be tested in the ocean," says Kumar who has also been approached by a power sector corporation for the technology.

"The energy is clean, eco-friendly and renewable. The potential of this project is vast; it could ease the energy crisis of our country," says Kumar.

The journey started out in a classroom in Ranchi, with three young boys and one idea. And while the converter must still go through much testing, the endeavour remains powered by a single idea for change.

Sharat Kumar
plans to convert energy from ocean waves into electricity that will power your living room



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