GEOTHERMAL ENERGY POTENTIAL OF INDIA

Geothermal energy is one of the potential alternative energy sources catering to both
industrial and domestic energy requirements in many parts of the world. Presently, it is
being used as a source for producing electricity mainly along active plate boundaries.

1. GEOTHERMAL ENERGY POTENTIAL OF INDIA By Lalitha , 14004636

2. WHAT IS GEOTHERMAL ENERGY?? The predominant source of the Earth’s heat is the gradual decay of long-lived radioactive isotopes (40K, 232Th, 235U and 238U). Under the right conditions, water can penetrate into these hot rock zones, resulting in the formation of high temperature geothermal systems containing hot water, water and steam, or steam, at depths of 500 m to 3,000 m.  

3. WHY GEOTHERMAL ENERGY?? No pollution Produce electricity 24 hours a day. The   greenhouse gas emissions   are 45   grams of   co2   per KWH of electricity, or less than 5 % of that of conventional coal-fired plants T he amount of heat within 10,000 meters of earth’s surface is 50,000 times more energy than all the oil and natural gas resources in the world.

4. HOW IS GEOTHERMAL ENERGY CAPTURED? Normally geothermal energy is captured from geothermal hotspots. Hot Springs for Geothermal Power Plants- ‘hydrothermal convection’ Direct uses of Geothermal Heat Ground-source heat pumps- heating and cooling to buildings

5. HOW ELECTRICITY IS PRODUCED FROM GEOTHERMAL ENERGY ?

6. Advantages and limitations of Geothermal Energy C lean , inexpensive and renewable energy. If harnessed correctly, it leads to no harmful by-products Small and have little effect on the natural landscape, or the nearby environment . N o fuel is used. Running & Maintain costs are very low. Moreover , the cost of the land to build a geothermal power plant, is usually less as compared to the cost of constructing an oil, gas , coal, or nuclear power plant.

7. If harnessed incorrectly, produce pollutants. Improper drilling into the earth can release hazardous minerals and gases from deep down inside the earth, which can be contained quite easily. They may run out of steam in the long run.

8. PROSPECTS OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY IN INDIA Geological Survey of India has identified about 340 geothermal hot springs in the country . These springs are grouped into seven geothermal provinces i.e. Himalayan (Puga, Chhumathang ), Sahara Valley, Cambay Basin , Son- Narmada - Tapi (SONATA ) lineament belt, West Coast, Godavari basin and Mahanadi basin . Puga is considered to be a good potential of geothermal energy. In Puga valley, hot spring temperatures vary from 30 C to 85 C (boiling point at Puga ) and discharge up to 300 litres /minute . A total of 34 boreholes ranging in depths from 28.5 m to 384.7 m have been drilled in Puga valley.

9. MAJOR AND REPRESENTATIVE INDIAN GEOTHERMAL PROVINCE

10. Companies undertaken projects Panx GEOTHERMAl – puga valley Geosyndicate power private limited – AP( Aswaraopet ) LNJ Bhilwara TATA power THERMAX NTPC AVIN ENERGY SYSTEMS

11. India’s first geothermal plant to come up in Chhattisgarh. Ntpc has already started exploratory and preparatory work in this area. It has also started talks with oil and natural gas corp and international organisations for drilling operation.

12. Conclusion Around 6.5 per cent of electricity generation in the world would be done with the help of geothermal energy. Geothermal stations use 404 square meters per  GW·h  versus 3,632 and 1,335 square meters for coal facilities and wind farms respectively .  They use 20 litres of freshwater per MW·h versus over 1000 litres per  MW·h for nuclear, coal, or oil. One geothermal power project has a capacity of 25MW. power at Rs 3.50-4 per unit, the same as a coal-based plant."