The development of OTEC (Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion) and LTTD (Low Temperature Thermal Desalination) plants and leverage developments in this regard to relieve water-stress in the Lakshadweep and A & N Island chains, in specific areas along the country’s East Coast, as also in water-stressed Small and Developing Island States (SIDS) of the Indo-Pacific can be a hi-tech initiative in the maritime sector. India already has a leadership in this technology frontier at the NIOT, Chennai.
Many other countries are also developing tidal energy generators which can have applications in the Gulf of Khambat and the Kandla channel where the tidal variation is high eough to be isefully harnessed. Technologies to conver wave energy into electrical energy are also maturing. In addition, developing technologies for the sustainable harvesting of bio-organisms, submerged aquatic vegetation, bio-active natural products should now be invested in.
On the same lines as the International Solar Alliance, which was conceptualised by India, a proposal for an similar International Ocean Energy Alliance may be examined.