Lok Sabha Question No. 2435 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-03
Subject: Development of Geothermal Technology
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Manoj Kishorbhai Kotak

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2435

ANSWERED ON 03.08.2023

## DEVELOPMENT OF GEOTHERMAL TECHNOLOGY

## 2435. SHRIMATI RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE SHRI MANOJ KOTAK:

Will the Minister of New & Renewable Energy be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to develop the geothermal technology to extract the heat trapped in the earth's crust which can be directly used for heating/cooling or to make electricity;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any explanatory efforts in this direction have been carried out by the Government in the past;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of findings along with the reasons for not exploring this sector any further?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER

## (SHRI R.K. SINGH)

(a) & (b) The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is implementing a 'Renewable Energy Research and Technology Development Programme (RE-RTD)' through various research institutions and industry to develop indigenous technologies and manufacturing for widespread applications of new and renewable energy in efficient and cost-effective manner, including geothermal technology to extract the heat trapped in the earth's crust which can be directly used for heating/cooling or to make electricity.

It provides up to 100% financial support to government/non-profit research organizations and up to 70% to industry, startups, private institutes, entrepreneurs, and manufacturing units.

The Ministry of Power has notified Mission on Advanced and High-Impact Research (MAHIR) which includes Geothermal Energy as latest and emerging technology research area.

(c)  &  (d)  Geological  Survey  of  India  (GSI)  carries  out  exploration  of  geothermal  energy  in  various recognized geothermal fields which  includes collection of data on temperature, discharge, and quality/chemistry  of  water  in  different  geothermal  fields.  Till  date,  GSI  has  studied  381  thermally anomalous areas across India and has published a report titled 'Geothermal Atlas of India, 2022'.

- (e)  As per Geothermal Atlas, there is an estimated potential of about 10,600 MW of geothermal power in the country.

The following reservoir temperature ranges have been estimated at the depth of 500m to 1000m :

- 175 °C ± 25 °C in Tatapani-Surajkund belt in Chhatisgarh and Jharkhand, Cambay in Gujarat, Manuguru in Telangana and Puga-Chumathang area in Ladakh,
- 60 °C ± 10 °C in Jharkhand, Bihar, MP, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Telangana, and 110°C ± 20 °C in other areas,
- There are possibilities of encountering higher temperature at deeper levels.

However, Geothermal projects are yet to reach grid-parity due to higher capital costs. The projects at some potential  geothermal  sites  are  not  considered  techno-economically  viable  due  to  high  altitude,  difficult terrain, harsh weather conditions, very short working period and difficulty in evacuation of power.