In its efforts to tap alternate sources of energy , the Department of Ocean Development (DOD) has embarked on two ambitious projects - a pilot plant to exploit gas hydrates and an ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) plant. According to Dr Harsh K. Gupta, Secretary, DOD the 1 MW, OTEC off the coast of Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu would be commissioned early next year. On the other hand, the gas hydrate pilot plant would be set up in the next 4-5 years.