Abstract:
Electricity, the most suitable and convenient form of energy for transmission and usage purpose is the key to the development for a country. The demand of electricity in an underdeveloped country like Bangladesh is increasing exponentially day by day while the supply increases in a linear fashion. On the other note the economy of Bangladesh largely depends on tourism. St Martin’s Island is one of the most notable tourist spots here, the only coral Island of Bangladesh in Bay of Bengal. But due to the lack of electricity supply and uncontrolled tourism policy, this beautiful Island becoming inhabitable to the tourists and losing its tourism potential. Because of location, St Martin’s Island is isolated from the national grid. Currently the basic electrical power requirements of the Tourist Resorts there are being supplied by standalone diesel generators. The electricity supply by generators is discontinuous and they are operated at some specific hours when the tourists most likely to in need of electricity. On average, the generators remain turned on for 8 to 9 hours daily within two shifts of operation namely: ‘Day-shift’ and ‘Evening-shift’. The sole purpose of this work is to present a preliminary theoretical outline for supplying necessary electrical energy requirements within those specific periods when the generators are usually put into operation, by renewable wave powered hydro-electricity and replace the diesel generators, thereby constructing a wave powered micro-hydro power plant with an isolated grid system to facilitate the supply of renewable electrical energy to the resorts. For harnessing the energy available in the waves near shore area of the Island, the use of a novel wave energy converter named ‘Searaser’ has been suggested in this study along with logical reasoning about its application in the area of interest. While, renewable energy supply is the major concern, the issue of sustainable tourism is also placed at the base of every major decision.
