<P> Wave power depends upon the height of the wave and its period . Primary estimates of wave energy potential along Indian coast is around 5 - 15 MW / m, so the theoretical estimated potential comes out to be around 40 - 60 GW . A study by IIT Madras and Credit Rating Information Services of Indian Ltd (CRISIL) have shown that western coast has higher wind power potential compared to eastern coast . They have identified potential locations for wave power development along the west coast of India in Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala . Kanyakumari located at the southern tip of Indian peninsula has the highest power owing to the effects of refraction and strong winds . With currently available technologies, amount of power that can be generated using wave energy is much less than the theoretical estimated potential . </P> <P> Capacity Utilization factor for wave energy in India is in the range of 15 - 20% . </P> <P> Wave energy research in India was initiated in 1983 when the Department of Ocean Development of Government of India provided funds to Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, for carrying out the research . This led to the establishment of a 150 kW Pilot wave energy plant in 1991 at Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala . </P> <P> Vizhinjam wave energy plant was the world's first wave power plant working on Oscillating Water Column (OWC) technology . This technology utilizes the change in levels of water inside caisson as waves approach . As the water level increases in the caisson, the air inside is compressed, which is then used to drive an air turbine . The power generated from this plant, however, varied a lot throughout the year and maximum power was generated only during the monsoon months . After a long duration of being out of use, it was planned to be utilized for powering a Reverse Osmosis Desalination plant in 2004 . This project also was not successful and the wave energy plant was finally decommissioned in 2011 . </P>

When was india's first ocean wave's energy project launched