The Marine Renewable-Energy Development Project, undertaken in Ningbo by NIT, has proven to be a great success. The purpose of this engineering project is to use the oceans tidal power and wave energy to produce electricity and fresh water.

The projects experimental platform is a floating catamaran that is 14 meters wide, 11 meters long and 4.5 meters high. The mid-section of the platform is equipped with a horizontal shaft device that captures tidal movement; on the port and starboard sides of the platform are hydraulic systems that convert wave action into electrical energy. The success of this project will aid in the establishment of a Research and Service Center for developing new technologies for marine aquaculture.

It is reported that the long-term goal of this project is to solve problems of limited sources of fresh water and electricity at remote islands. The total cost of this project is estimated to be around seven million Renminbi.