Context

The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) plans to map the geothermal energy sources of India in search of clean energy. 

What is Geothermal Energy?

• Geothermal energy is heat that is generated within the Earth. 
• Geothermal energy is stored in the form of heat beneath the earth’s surface 
• Type:Renewable resource 
• Source:It is contained in the rocks and fluids beneath the earth’s crust and can be found as far down as the earth’s hot molten rock, magma.
• Impact on environment: clean and carbon-free.
• Process: Aseries of wells is used to generate steam from the Earth’s internal heat energy and fed to the power plant to generate electricity

Geothermal Energy in India:

• Geothermal province: There are seven geothermal provinces and a number of geothermal springs in India.
• Total potential: According to the ministry of new and renewable energy, India has the potential to generate 10 gig watts (GW) of geothermal power.
• Major regions: Ladakh (Puga and Chumathang regions) has been identified as the most resource-rich region in terms of geothermal energy in the country.
  • Apart from Ladakh, there is abundant potential in Himachal Pradesh too which has several sources of geothermal energy along the rivers Alaknanda, Sutlej, Beas and Bhagirathi.
  • Efforts are also underway to utilize geothermal energy from oil and gas wells in the Gandhar oil field of ONGC’s Ankleshwar asset in Gujarat.
    
    

India’s Top Renewable Energy Projects:

• Puga Geothermal Energy Project, Ladakh
• Bhadla Solar Park, Rajasthan
• Jaisalmer Wind Park, Jaisalmer
• Rewa Solar Project, Madhya Pradesh
• Brahmanvel Wind Farm, Maharashtra
• Gobar Dhan BioCNG Plant, Indore
• Vankusawade Wind Park, Maharashtra
• Ramky Enviro Landfill, Gas to Bio CNG Plant, Hyderabad
• Shakti Sthala Solar Project, Karnataka
• Simhadri Floating Solar PV Plant, Andhra Pradesh
• Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park, Andhra Pradesh
• Pavagada Solar Park, Karnataka
• Muppandal Wind Farm, Tamil Nadu