State-run explorer Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is set to generate electricity through geothermal energy at Puga, a remote valley in Ladakh, near the de-facto border with China. This pioneering venture marks an important step in India’s pursuit of renewable energy sources and carries significant ramifications for the region and the country.
THE PUGA PROJECT
Puga Valley, situated in the Changthang Valley, is known for its natural beauty and geothermal activities. The valley, which is visited for its hot sulphur spring, will host India’s first geothermal energy project. In the proposed three-phase project, ONGC has begun drilling the first well and has encountered high-pressure steam – a positive sign for the development of the project.
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY: A POTENTIAL GAME-CHANGER FOR LADAKH
Through this project, Ladakh can come into prominence as one of the country’s clean energy sources. The pilot plant will cater to the power and heating needs of neighbouring Tibetan pastoralist refugee settlements, reducing their reliance on diesel generators. Furthermore, this plant can act as a stabiliser for other renewable energy projects, like the 15-gigawatt solar/wind project being planned nearby.
SCOPE OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY IN INDIA
The Geological Survey of India has identified about 340 geothermal hot springs in the country, which could potentially generate around 10,000 MW of power. These hot springs are mostly suitable for direct heat applications due to their low surface temperature. Some potential locations for power plants based on geothermal energy include Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh, Jalgaon in Maharashtra, Tapovan in Uttarakhand, Bakreshwar in West Bengal, and Tuwa in Gujarat.
GLOBAL STATUS OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
Worldwide, the US leads in geothermal electricity generation, with Indonesia coming second. Other substantial contributors include the Philippines, Turkey, and New Zealand; with Mexico, Italy, Kenya, Iceland, and Japan also harnessing the strength of geothermal energy.
UNDERSTANDING GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
Geothermal energy, derived from the Greek words geo (earth) and therme (heat), refers to the heat derived from the Earth. This renewable energy source is used not only for generating electricity through driving generators but for heating buildings, roads, agricultural fields, and industrial plants as well. It offers several benefits including continuous supply, reduced import dependency, small footprint, and clean energy.
LIMITATIONS OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
Despite its various advantages, if harnessed incorrectly, geothermal energy can lead to the release of harmful pollutants. Inappropriate drilling into the earth has the potential to liberate hazardous minerals and gases embedded deep inside the earth.
ABOUT ONGC
ONGC, a public sector petroleum company, was established under the leadership of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1955 as the Oil and Gas Division under the Geological Survey of India. Later renamed as the Oil and Natural Gas Commission, it was converted into a corporation in 1994. ONGC was recognized as one of the Navaratnas by the Government of India in 1997, and in 2010, it was given the status of Maharatna.
UPSC CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION – A SAMPLE QUESTION
One of the previous year questions in the UPSC Civil Services Exam (2013) included a question on the responsible factors for bringing dynamic changes on the surface of the Earth. The correct answer suggests that endogenic and exogenic processes, influenced by electromagnetic radiation, geothermal energy, gravitational force, plate movements, rotation of the earth, and revolution of the earth, play a significant role in the Earth’s dynamic surface.
