ONGC to map India’s geothermal resources in search of clean energy.

• ONGC plans to map the geothermal energy sources of India in search of clean energy.
• Move comes at a time when India has set an ambitious target of 500 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2030 and net zero carbon emission by 2070.

Geothermal Energy

• Geothermal energy is stored in the form of heat beneath the earth’s surface and is considered to be clean, renewable and carbon-free.
• Magma in inner layer of earth heats nearby rocks and underground aquifers, as a result hot water is released through geysers, hotsprings, steam vents,underwater hydrothermal vents, and mud pots. Hot water and steam can be piped up through underground wells and used to generate electricity in a power plant.
• As per preliminary investigations undertaken by Geological Survey of India, there are around 300 geothermal hot springs in India.
• Puga and Chumathang in eastern Ladakh are the most promising geothermal sites.
• Other sites include Cambay in Gujarat,Tattapani in Chattisgarh, Khammam in Telangana & Ratnagiri in Maharasthra.
• According to estimates, India has a potential of 10 GW of geothermal energy.
• Benefits of Geothermal energy : carbon-free, renewable, provides a continuous, uninterrupted supply etc.
• Disadvantages: location-specific energy source, associated with other emissions like sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide, causes mini tremors in area of operation, high initial cost etc