India to join ocean energy systems association

The central government on Wednesday approved the country's entry into the 'International Energy Agency - Ocean Energy Systems' (IEA-OES).

The decision was taken by the union cabinet which met here under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The union cabinet gave its approval for India becoming a member country of the IEA-OES by signing the implementing agreement," an official statement said after the cabinet meeting.

"The nodal agency for the membership would be 'Earth System Science Organisation - National Institute of Ocean Technology' (ESSO-NIOT) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences."

According to the statement, by becoming a member of the IEA-OES, India will have access to advanced R&D (research and development) teams and technologies across the world.

"India will partner in developing test protocols along with other countries. This will help in testing Indian prototypes as per international requirements and norms. Joint cooperative programs with institutes of member countries could be taken up," the statement elaborated.

"India's own research projects with specific targets can be taken up in conjunction with other countries."

The decision assumes significance as their is a need to design ocean energy devices that suits India's needs, by conditions techno-commercial viability studies.

The OES, launched in 2001, is an intergovernmental collaboration between countries, which operates under framework established by the International Energy Agency.

The initiative is ment to advance research, development and demonstration of technologies to harness energy from all forms of ocean renewable resources, as well as for other uses, such as desalination through international cooperation and information exchange.