Electricity will be generated from the heat of the Himalayas, efforts are being made to set up geothermal energy plant in Uttarakhand, know the complete plan

Uttarakhand is going to take another step towards becoming an energy state. On one hand, while the government is promoting solar energy, on the other hand, the government’s focus has also increased towards geothermal energy. In this sequence, all the officials of the Uttarakhand government went on a tour to Iceland, where they saw the details of the geothermal power plant built in Iceland. Along with this, the Uttarakhand government had decided that geothermal power plants will be set up as a pilot project at some places in Uttarakhand. For this, an MoU will be signed with the Iceland government to share technology.

2000 MW of electricity can be produced easily

Uttarakhand has immense potential for geothermal energy, which if used properly, can produce electricity without harming the environment. This is the reason why the government is emphasizing on power generation from geothermal. A large number of hot springs are present in the Himalayan regions of the country. However, so far only the sources of about 340 hot springs have been identified. If a geothermal power plant is installed here too, then about 2000 MW of electricity can be easily produced.

There are 40 hot springs in Uttarakhand

On the other hand, if we talk about Uttarakhand, there are 40 hot springs in the state, out of which 20 are in Garhwal and 20 in Kumaon region. About 5 MW of electricity can be produced from the geothermal springs present in Tapovan in Chamoli district, in view of which the Central Electricity Authority, Government of India had sent a letter to the Uttarakhand government last year in 2023 regarding the use of geothermal energy. So that emphasis can be laid on alternative energy.

Uttarakhand officials had visited Iceland

In this sequence, a preliminary meeting was held with the Ambassador of Iceland to India on 12 July 2024. After this, the Icelandic government, through the Icelandic Embassy, ​​invited the Uttarakhand government to see the geothermal projects present in Iceland, discuss the MoU and visit the area. After this, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed the delegation led by Energy Secretary R Meenakshi Sundaram to visit Reykjavik Iceland. In the sequence of which, on August 1, 2024, the delegation visited the international geothermal engineering consultancy firm Varkis.

Discussion on geothermal projects

Also, officials of Geosurvey and Geothermal Training Program in Varkis Iceland discussed geothermal projects in Uttarakhand. After the Iceland tour, the officials had decided to set up a geothermal power plant at a hot spring in the state as a pilot project. For this, an MoU was to be signed with the Government of Iceland. So that Iceland shares its technology with the Uttarakhand government and tells the details of the geothermal power plant. Although many months have passed since this, but till now the MoU has not been signed with the Iceland government. But now during this time some steps have been taken forward by the government.

MoU will be signed with Iceland government

Giving more information about this, Energy Secretary R Meenakshi Sundaram said that an MoU has to be signed with the Iceland government to set up a geothermal power plant. The Uttarakhand government has to sign an MoU with another country, due to which permission was sought by sending a copy of the MoU to the Ministry of External Affairs. The Ministry of External Affairs had sent the copy of the MoU to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). On which MNRE had agreed.

After getting consent from MNRE, the Uttarakhand government had sent a copy of the MoU to the Ministry of Environment, on which the Ministry of Environment had asked for some queries, which have been answered. Also, the Energy Secretary said that he hopes that permission will be received from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in the next 15 to 20 days. After that, an MoU will be signed with the Iceland government for a feasibility study on one of the 40 geothermal plants present in the state.

Also told that before the feasibility study, an exercise will be done on the existing data related to geothermal. After this, drilling will be done for the feasibility study. The cost of which will be borne by UJVNL, after which money will be made available to UJVNL through some means of the government.

Also told that at present geothermal present in two places Badrinath and Tapovan have been identified. In such a situation, first a table talk will be done about both the geothermals. If everything goes well, then the feasibility study will be done through drilling. However, only after drilling will it be known how much possibility there is of setting up a geothermal power plant.

Also said that if drilling is done for feasibility study on any one geothermal, then about 3 to 4 crore rupees are likely to be spent. Apart from this, ONGC has also expressed its desire to set up a geothermal power plant in Uttarakhand. In such a situation, an MoU will also be signed with ONGC.