India’s coastline to power the future: First-of-its-kind hybrid marine energy platform under development

In a groundbreaking development aligned with India’s ambitious green energy and blue economy goals, an indigenous hybrid marine energy platform—the first of its kind in the world—is being developed to harness multiple ocean-based renewable energy sources simultaneously.

The project is spearheaded by K. Muralidharan, a seasoned marine scientist and maritime infrastructure expert with over 35 years of experience in port development, ocean dynamics, and clean-tech entrepreneurship. He has held leadership positions in both government and private sectors and was part of the founding teams behind technology ventures like Roambee and Seven Hills Technologies. He currently serves as an advisor to the IIT Madras MBA in Digital Maritime and Supply Chain program.

The innovative Hybrid Floating Marine Energy Unit (HFMEU) is designed to capture energy from wave, tidal, swell, solar, and wind forces through a modular floating structure anchored in nearshore coastal waters. Its hybrid nature ensures energy continuity under varying ocean conditions, making it a reliable and clean alternative to diesel-based power systems in remote and strategic coastal zones.

A working prototype is currently under development and is expected to be ready for real-time deployment and testing within 8 to 12 months. The team plans to validate the technology at multiple coastal locations to fine-tune it for varied environmental conditions.

Target applications include ports, island communities, marine tourism, and coastal defense, where power demand is high but grid connectivity is limited or non-existent. The platform’s scalability and modularity allow it to be deployed in clusters to power desalination plants, hydrogen production hubs, or electric vessel infrastructure.

“This technology is not just a green energy solution—it’s a strategic energy innovation tailored for India’s 7,500 km coastline,” says Muralidharan. “It’s a game changer, made in India for India and the world," he told Bizz Buzz during a chat on Thursday.

The long-term vision includes creating a new class of ocean-based clean-tech infrastructure, supported by a pilot manufacturing unit, with the potential to transform India’s leadership in green technology, marine energy, and sustainable coastal development.

If successful, this homegrown innovation could position India as a global pioneer in multi-source marine renewable energy leading the transition from land-dependent power systems to truly ocean-integrated green technology.