INOCEAN expects first sea wave power plant in 2014

The newly established Indonesian Ocean Energy Association (INOCEAN) is working with the state utility company PT PLN and other stakeholders to develop sea wave power plant as part of efforts to speed up the usage of renewable energy in the country.

?The minimum target is that in 2014 there will be sea wave power plant with capacity of 1 MW,? said Mukhtasor, chairman of INOCEAN on Thursday night.

The association was established to promote the utilization of sea energy for power plants. The association was initiated by 14 prominent figures who are concerned with sea energy. Three of them are former ministers ? Fadel Muhammad (former fishery and maritime minister), Darwin Zahedy Saleh (former energy minister) and Suharna Surapranata (former minister for research and technology).

He said as oil and gas explorations are now moving toward offshore, attention should also be directed to utilization of sea energy.

INOCEAN estimated that Ocean Thermal (OTEC) has theoretical resources of 57 gigawatt, 52 GW technical resources and 43 GW practical resources. Tidal current is estimated to have 160 GW of theoretical resources, 22.5 GW of technical resources and 4.8 GW of practical resources. Meanwhile, ocean wave is projected to have 510 GW theoretical resources, 2 GW technical resources and 1.2 GW practical resources.

Mukhtasor also said that the move to promote the utilization of sea energy has gained strong support from PLN. ?PLN Director Nasri Sebayang has expressed his support. The initial target is to develop 2 MW of ocean wave,? Mukhtasor said. (sonar/roffie)