Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

OTEC Country Notes

Sri Lanka
Interest in OTEC and DOWA has been revived by the National Aquatic Resources Agency in Colombo, in the context of making use of Sri Lanka's EEZ, which is some 27 times its land area.

Three submarine canyons (Panadura, Dondra and Trincomalee) have been identified as highly suitable sites for OTEC plants and the production of electricity. The results of successful experiments conducted during 1994 were presented to the Government but political unrest in the area of Trincomalee has resulted in unsafe working conditions.

The Oceanography Division of the National Aquatic Resources Research & Development Agency (NARA) maintains contact with Japan's Institute of Ocean Energy (Saga University) and the Mitsui Corporation. Following the announcement in January 2007 of the establishment of an Alternative Energy Authority, it is hoped that in the future OTEC will play a significant role in Sri Lanka.