OIST Maldives Demonstration

The Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MEE) of the Republic of Maldives and Kokyo Tatemono Company Ltd. of Japan, to embark on a demonstration wave energy project in Kandooma Island, Maldives.
OIST's technology uses an array of wave energy converter (WECs) consisting of turbines that are placed at the wave-breaking zone to generate electricity. Kandooma Island was chosen as the field test site for this project because the wave-breaking zone is very close to the island, thus convenient to transport the experimental equipment. In May 2018, two half-scale WEC prototypes were installed, each with a 35 cm turbine and a 1.3 kW peak capacity, and in November 2018 two full-scale WECs were installed , each with a 60 cm turbine and a 8 kW peak capacity.
The array operated continuously until 2021 when the project was suspended. The generator and other equipment had remained on site while not in use, and consequently, the condition of those deteriorated significantly. Considering total cost to repair them and also reviewing the installation method, OIST made the decision to remove the generator and equipment. In March 2023, the removal work was completed and Ducted WEC project was contractually terminated. OIST hope to improve upon the design of their generator and find a more effective measure of installation, after which the project may recommence in Maldives.

groups.oist.jp

Project Manager

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University

Additional Information

Project Website

Project Status Is the project actively being planned or is deployed in the water (active)? Or was the project canceled or completed (inactive)?

Inactive

Project Life Cycle Project Progress through life cycle:<ul> <li>Planned: Project has identified a deployment location and is preparing for deployment</li> <li>Operational: Project is deployed in the water and is active</li> <li>Completed: Project was previously deployed in the water</li> <li>Decommissioned: Installation has been fully removed in accordance with regulations</li> <li>Canceled: Project was canceled before being deployed in the water</li></ul>

Decommissioned

Max Rated Power Capacity The maximum amount of electricity that can be produced by project, based on available resources and device nameplate capacity.

0.0186 MW

Operational Duration

May 2018 - 2021

Project Duration

2016 - 2023

Energy Resource

Wave

Project Scale

Full-scale

Number of Devices

4

Grid Connectivity

Not Grid Connected

Waterbody

Indian Ocean, Kandooma

Site Characteristics Geographic characterization for the project location:<ul> <li>Open Ocean: Main body of ocean, not enclosed or partially enclosed by land</li> <li>Coastal: Open water near the coast, spanning between land and shelf boundary</li> <li>Enclosed Bay: water that is partially surrounded by land, with a mouth open to larger water</li> <li>Constricted Channel: A channel where water flows quickly due to narrowing by the land</li> <li>River: Water flowing from land towards a larger body of water</li></ul>

Coastal

Country

Maldives

Last Modified

2 May 2025

This Project has the following MRE Devices

Citation Formats

“OIST Maldives Demonstration.” Marine Energy Projects Database: Projects, PRIMRE, United States Department of Energy, https:https://openei.org/wiki/PRIMRE/Databases/Projects_Database/Projects/OIST_Maldives_Demonstration. Accessed <day> <monthRoman> <year>.

Marine Energy Projects Database: Projects. <year>. "OIST Maldives Demonstration." Accessed <monthRoman> <day>, <year>. https:https://openei.org/wiki/PRIMRE/Databases/Projects_Database/Projects/OIST_Maldives_Demonstration.

PRIMRE/Databases/Projects Database/Projects/OIST Maldives Demonstration

OIST Maldives Demonstration

This Project has the following MRE Devices

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