Govt to push geothermal pilots under new policy, Pg 17.

Key Highlights:

• New national policy on geothermal energy aims to test commercial viability with research firms from the US, Iceland, and Norway.
• Companies are considering R&D and pilot projects in the Gulf of Cambay, Arunachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
• The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has mapped 381 hot springs nationwide with surface temperatures between 35°C and 89°C.
• India has an estimated 10.6 gigawatts (GW) of geothermal potential.

Detailed Insights:

• Geothermal energy utilizes the Earth's heat from hot water springs or underground reservoirs to generate electricity by spinning turbines.
• The MNRE policy, released on September 17, supports the exploration and development of these hot springs.
• The government will explore technological collaborations with the US and Indonesia, especially for enhanced geothermal systems.
• Key geothermal sites are in the Himalayan Geothermal Province, the Cambay Graben in Gujarat, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) involve creating artificial reservoirs by fracturing hot, dry rocks and circulating water to extract heat.
• Globally, less than 17 GW of geothermal capacity is currently harnessed, indicating significant untapped potential.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Geothermal Energy: Renewable energy derived from the Earth's internal heat.
• Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS): Engineered reservoirs to extract heat from dry rocks.
• Geological Survey of India (GSI): Organization responsible for geological surveys and research in India.