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: A series 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 gigawatts (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.