Arunachal Pradesh Signs MoU with Norway's Tidal Sail for India's First River Kinetic Energy Demonstration Plant
The Arunachal Pradesh government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Norwegian technology company Tidal Sail AS to develop a river-based clean energy project in the state. The agreement paves the way for India's first River Kinetic Energy Demonstration Plant, which will generate electricity from natural river currents without requiring large dams or extensive civil infrastructure.
The MoU was signed between the state's Centre for Earth Sciences & Himalayan Studies (CES&HS) and Tidal Sail AS, and will result in a 500-kW River Kinetic Energy Demonstration Project. The initiative is supported by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and Innovation Norway under the India-Norway Green Partnership.
State Science and Technology Minister Dasanglu Pul described the agreement as a milestone in Arunachal Pradesh's clean energy transition, citing the state's extensive river systems as offering significant untapped renewable energy potential. Officials said the project is designed to support decentralised electricity generation for remote and difficult-to-access regions, strengthening the state's energy security.
The technology generates power directly from river currents, an approach intended to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, lower carbon emissions and limit disruption to river ecosystems compared to conventional hydropower infrastructure. The collaboration also extends CES&HS's existing partnerships with Norwegian institutions, including the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, in geothermal energy and sustainable infrastructure development.
If the demonstration project proves successful, officials expect it could pave the way for similar river kinetic energy installations elsewhere in India, particularly across other Himalayan river systems, contributing to the country's broader clean energy and electricity access goals.