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India’s First Geothermal Project in Ladakh

Posted on February 17, 2021 by admin1  1180

In News: Recently, Ladakh’s administration, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for establishing India’s first-ever geothermal field development project.

About the Project

  • ONGC Energy Centre is the implementing agency for this pilot project, which aims to generate a new green energy source for the UT.
  • Three Phased Implementation
    • Phase-1
      • Involves exploratory-cum-production drilling of wells up to 500 meters depth.
      • 1 MW power generation capacity shall be generated and 100 per cent free power shall be supplied to the general public.
    • Phase-2
      • Involves a deeper and lateral exploration of the geothermal reservoir by drilling an optimal number of wells and setting up of a higher capacity demo plant.
      • Also involves preparing a Detailed Project Report.
    • Phase-3
      • It would involve commercial development of the geothermal plant as per discovered capacity.
  • Location
    • In Eastern Ladakh, Puga and Chumathang are said to be the most promising geothermal fields in India.
    • These areas were discovered in the 1970s and initial exploratory efforts were made in the 1980s by the Geological Survey of India (GSI).
    • However, subsequent efforts at the exploitation by various government and private agencies did not materialise.

Significance

  • The move is a step towards the goal of carbon-neutral Ladakh and promises an innovative and sustainable development of the UT.
  • A viable geothermal project can ensure a continuous supply of renewable, clean energy.
  • Geothermal resource development can revolutionise farming in Ladakh, which is now totally dependent on outside resources for supply of fresh vegetables, fruits, round the year.
  • The energy from this project will give round-the-clock power supplies.
  • The hot water from the spring could be used for space-heating and establishing hot swimming pools to attract tourists, which will give a boost to tourism in the UT.

Geothermal Energy

  • The word geothermal comes from the Greek words geo (earth) and therme (heat).
  • It refers to the heat stored beneath the earth’s surface that is carried to the surface by water and/or steam.
  • It can be directly used or converted into electricity.
  • This energy is clean, sustainable, carbon-free, continuous, uninterrupted and environment-friendly.
  • This thermal energy is contained in the rock and fluids beneath Earth’s crust. The slow decay of radioactive particles in the earth’s core produces geothermal energy.
  • It can be found from the shallow ground to several miles below the surface, and even farther down to the extremely hot molten rock called magma.
    • Rocks and water absorb heat from magma deep underground.
  • Advantages
    • It can be extracted without burning fossil fuels like coal, gas, or oil.
    • Geothermal fields produce only about 1/6th of the carbon dioxide (CO2)that a relatively clean natural-gas-fueled power plant produces. Binary plants release almost no emissions.
    • Unlike solar and wind energy, geothermal energy is always available throughout the year.
    • It’s also relatively inexpensive and savings from direct use can be as much as 80 per cent over fossil fuels.
  • Disadvantages
    • The process of extraction releases hydrogen sulfide, a gas that smells like a rotten egg at low concentrations.
    • Another issue is the disposal of some geothermal fluids, which may carry low levels of toxic materials.
    • Geothermal sites are capable of providing heat for many decades, however, specific locations may cool down eventually.

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Source: TH

 
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