The Member of NITI Aayog and Distinguished missile Scientist, Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat, inaugurated a two-day ‘International Symposium on Advancements in Marine Renewable Energy (ISAMRE 2025)’ at the National Institute of Ocean Technology in Chennai on 17 March 2025.
The international symposium, organized by the National Institute of Ocean Technology under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, will be held from today until tomorrow (March 18). It will be attended by students, researchers, policymakers, scientists and industry experts from India and around the world.
Mr. V. K. Saraswat presented sea-water fuelled lanterns (manufactured through technology transfer) to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep administration authorities, and a navigational buoy for guiding ships at sea to Kamarajar Port authorities. This sea-water fueled lantern, named "Roshini," is the invention of Dr. Purnima Jalihal, a scientist at the National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai.
In his inaugural address, NITI Aayog Member Mr. V. K. Saraswat stated that India has a coastline of more than 7,500 kilometers and Exclusive Economic Zones spanning 2.02 million square kilometers, which plays a significant role in the country's blue economy. He also mentioned that India is generating electricity through offshore wind farms, and in the future, floating solar power generation and wave power generation will be environmentally friendly and have very low carbon emissions, creating employment opportunities for local people in this sector. He predicted that this sector would grow by 22.8% in the period 2023-2032. He also stated that India has the potential to generate 54 GW of ocean power, including 12.4 GW of wave power. He also released the souvenir of the symposium at the event.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Professor Dr. Balaji Ramakrishnan, Director of the National Institute of Ocean Technology, Dr. Purnima Jalihal, Head of the Energy & Freshwater Department, students, researchers, and others.
Key Highlights of ISAMRE 2025
- Expert Keynotes & Invited Talks policymakers. Providing insights from leading scientists and policymakers
- Technical Sessions standardization. Covering advancements in marine energy conversion and standardization
- Poster & Drawing Competitions - Encouraging innovation among students and researchers.
- Technical Lab Visits NIOT - Showcasing cutting-edge research and ocean energy projects at NIOT.
With India's vast coastline, marine renewable energy presents a promising opportunity for sustainable and emission-free power generation. The symposium aims to explore and discuss the latest advancements in harnessing energy from tidal currents, waves, ocean thermal & salinity gradients, offshore wind, floating solar photovoltaics, and hydrogen production from marine sources.
NIOT encourages college students and researchers to present their research via Poster Competition. Additionally, school students (Classes 8-12) have been given opportunity to showcase their artistic and creative thoughts by participating the Drawing Competition on the theme of Marine Renewable Energy. Prizes will be awarded to the winning entries during the event.