During the year considerable efforts were made to further improve the efficiency of the wave energy facility set up at Vizhinjam in Kerala. An impulse turbine with self pitched guide vanes,connected by links was designed, erected and commissioned in May,'97. Experiments conducted showed that the peak power was 80 KW and the average during an eight minute interval was 12.3 KW. The performance was evaluated by a technical committee. It is observed that the impulse turbine, has a performance superior to that of Wells turbines. A jelly has also been constructed in order that the plant be operational during the monsoon of 1998.

Further studies are being done in order to analyse the performance of the turbine with fixed guide vanes. Laboratory studies at IIT, Chennai are also underway in order to design a floating type of oscillating water column called the backward bent ducted buoy. Preliminary results have been obtained and a prototype wave powered navigational buoy can now be designed. Preliminary studies have also been conducted on harnessing ocean energy following the principle of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC). A Memorandum of Understanding for the design of a 1 MW OTEC plant was signed with Saga University. Subsequently, two scientists from NIOT visited Saga University, Japan in order to firm the thermal cycle calculations. A detailed project report for the implementation of the 1 MW floating OTEC plant, was prepared and the approval of the Expenditure Finance Committee was obtained to implement the project during 1998-99.