Northeast’s First Geothermal Production in Arunachal Pradesh

General Studies Paper-3

Context: The Centre for Earth Sciences and Himalayan Studies (CESHS) has successfully drilled Northeast India’s first geothermal production well at Dirang in Arunachal Pradesh’s West Kameng district.

About the project

• The Dirang area is a medium-to-high enthalpy geothermal zone (~115°C), with geological features supporting efficient and low-impact drilling.
• The project involves CESHS, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), Icelandic firm Geotropy ehf, and Guwahati Boring Service (GBS).
• It is supported by the Arunachal Pradesh government and India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• This marks a major step toward clean, eco-friendly energy solutions in the high-altitude region.

What is Geothermal energy?

• Geothermal energy is heat energy from the earth—geo (earth) + thermal (heat).
• Geothermal resources are reservoirs of hot water that exist or are human-made at varying temperatures and depths below the earth’s surface.
• It taps into the Earth’s subsurface heat for direct heating or electricity generation, requiring medium- to high-temperature resources typically found near tectonic activity.
• Its key advantages are low cost, reliable year-round operation, and the ability to provide steady, dispatchable power—making it increasingly valuable alongside intermittent sources like solar and wind.

Applications of Geothermal Energy

• Geothermal energy serves multiple purposes, including heating and cooling buildings with heat pumps, generating electricity with power plants, and directly heating structures through direct-use applications.
• Geothermal energy can be used for fruit, nut, and meat drying, space heating, and controlled-atmosphere storage—key to improving agriculture and living conditions in high-altitude areas.

Concerns

• Geothermal energy can cause minor earthquakes in seismically active areas due to high-pressure water injection
• Drilling and resource exploration require significant investment, making the cost a barrier.
• Viable geothermal sites are often concentrated in specific regions with active tectonic activity.
• It can pose risks such as land subsidence, water use conflicts, and the release of trace gases if not properly managed.

Suggestions and Way Ahead

• The successful drilling in Northeast marks a major milestone in India’s quest for sustainable energy.
• Geothermal energy can play a vital role in a low-carbon, resilient energy future.
• But it needs continued research, technological innovation, and supportive policies to unlock its full potential
• Public and private sector collaboration will be essential in lowering costs, improving drilling techniques, and integrating geothermal more broadly into energy systems.