09-07-2012, 10:45 AM
Geothermal Energy Resources of India
Geothermal Energy Resources of India.docx (Size: 71.3 KB / Downloads: 60)
ABSTRACT
Indian geothermal provinces have the capacity to produce 10,600 MW of power- a figure which is five time greater than the combined power being produced from non-conventional energy sources such as wind, solar and biomass. But yet geothermal power projects have not seen the sunlight due the availability of 192 billion tones of recoverable coal reserves. With escalating environmental problems with coal based projects, Indian has to depend on clean, cheap, rural based and eco-friendly geothermal power in future. Due to technical and logistic problems with other non-conventional energy sources, present industrialist mood is upbeat and IPPs are showing keen interest in developing geothermal based power projects. With the existing open economic policies of the Govt., and large incentives given to non-conventional energy sectors, the future of geothermal energy sector in India appears to be bright.
INTRODUCTION
Several geothermal provinces in India characterized by high heat flow (78-468 mW/m2) and thermal gradients (47-100o C/km) discharge about 400 thermal springs. After the oil crisis in 1970s, the Geological Survey of India conducted reconnoiter survey on them in collaboration with UN organization and reported the results in several of their records and special publications ( G.S.I., 1987; G.S.I.,1991). Subsequently, detailed geological, geophysical and tectonic studies on several thermal provinces (Kaila and Krishna, 1992; Gupta, 1981; Ravi Shanker, 1988) geochemical characteristics of the thermal discharges and reservoir temperature estimations have been carried out by several workers ( Giggenbach, 1976; Giggenbach et.al., 1983; Nevada and Rao, 1991; Chandrasekharam et.al., 1989; 1992; 1996; Chandrasekharam and Antu, 1995; Chandrasekharam and Jayaprakash, 1996; Chandrasekharam et.al., 1997 ).
PRESENT STATUS OF NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY RESOURCES
The estimated power shortage in India in the next five years is about 43,000 MW. This demand will increase in the coming years due to economic globalization. Though India boasts of generating eco-friendly energy sources during the coming millennium, the present power generated through non-conventional sources is far less than the installed capacity of the power plants (Table 1). Thus the total installed capacity from renewable stands at 1313 MW which is 2.6 % of the total potential. Though capital subsidy and financial incentives are given by the Govt. of India, non-conventional energy sources are not able to bridge the gap between demand and supply of power. Geothermal energy, a non-conventional energy source, has not so far put to use though its power generating capacity is of the order of 10,600 MW. Neither the Govt. bodies nor the independent power producers (IPPs) are aware of this vast resource in the country. When non-conventional energy sources have the potential of generating about 60,600 MW power, which is more than the required amount for the next five years, then why Indian is not keen in developing this source in bridging supply-demand power gap? The answer lies in the 192 billion tones of recoverable coal reserves which is encouraging coal based power projects and hampering the healthy growth of non-conventional energy programs. In addition to coal, availability of naphtha in the world is adding fuel to the fire!.
Problems with conventional and non-conventional power projects
Though coal based and naphtha based power project are riding over other non-conventional energy sources, environmental problems associated with such mega-projects are many. India’s 67,000 MW of thermal power generating capacity constitutes about 70% of the country’s total power generation capacity. Due to oil shocks of 1970s, oil-fired power generation has come down to 15%. This has increased the dependence on coal based power projects due to 192 billion tones recoverable coal reserves available with India. Both oil-based and coal based power projects have similar environmental problems. Indian is already the sixth largest and second fastest growing contributor to greenhouse gases. Emissions of nitric oxide, sulphur dioxide and particulate matter is expected to treble in the next decade. The greatest unsolved problem with coal based power plants is the fly-ash. Indian coal has an ash content of 45 %. In contrast to most of the other (developed?) countries, which stopped promoting coal based thermal plants, these thermal power plants are thriving in India producing 75 million tones of fly-ash!! This production is expected to grow to 100 million tones in the next millennium. Only 3 % of this is being utilized! If all the bricks in the country were to be made of fly-ash, only 5% of 75 million tones will be put to use ( Business World, 1998). These toxic emissions are ruining historical monuments, such as the Taj Mahal.
Concluding remarks:
With escalating environmental problems with coal based project, non-participation of IPPs in hydro power projects, logistic and technical problems clouding other non-conventional energy projects, in future, India has to depend on clean, rural based, cheap energy sources and can not ignore its 10,600 MW geothermal potential. With available advance technology, all the medium enthalpy resources can be developed to support binary power projects. Compact generators like those developed by M/s Sowit and Turboden, Italy ( Angelino et.al., 1995) or like those developed by NEDO, Japan, are most suitable for generating rural based power from various thermal provinces. Till recently IPPs are not aware of geothermal resources of the country due to lack of awareness and mass communication. Conferences like the one conducted here, should be organized in India with major industrial participation.
Geothermal Energy Resources of India.docx (Size: 71.3 KB / Downloads: 60)
ABSTRACT
Indian geothermal provinces have the capacity to produce 10,600 MW of power- a figure which is five time greater than the combined power being produced from non-conventional energy sources such as wind, solar and biomass. But yet geothermal power projects have not seen the sunlight due the availability of 192 billion tones of recoverable coal reserves. With escalating environmental problems with coal based projects, Indian has to depend on clean, cheap, rural based and eco-friendly geothermal power in future. Due to technical and logistic problems with other non-conventional energy sources, present industrialist mood is upbeat and IPPs are showing keen interest in developing geothermal based power projects. With the existing open economic policies of the Govt., and large incentives given to non-conventional energy sectors, the future of geothermal energy sector in India appears to be bright.
INTRODUCTION
Several geothermal provinces in India characterized by high heat flow (78-468 mW/m2) and thermal gradients (47-100o C/km) discharge about 400 thermal springs. After the oil crisis in 1970s, the Geological Survey of India conducted reconnoiter survey on them in collaboration with UN organization and reported the results in several of their records and special publications ( G.S.I., 1987; G.S.I.,1991). Subsequently, detailed geological, geophysical and tectonic studies on several thermal provinces (Kaila and Krishna, 1992; Gupta, 1981; Ravi Shanker, 1988) geochemical characteristics of the thermal discharges and reservoir temperature estimations have been carried out by several workers ( Giggenbach, 1976; Giggenbach et.al., 1983; Nevada and Rao, 1991; Chandrasekharam et.al., 1989; 1992; 1996; Chandrasekharam and Antu, 1995; Chandrasekharam and Jayaprakash, 1996; Chandrasekharam et.al., 1997 ).
PRESENT STATUS OF NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY RESOURCES
The estimated power shortage in India in the next five years is about 43,000 MW. This demand will increase in the coming years due to economic globalization. Though India boasts of generating eco-friendly energy sources during the coming millennium, the present power generated through non-conventional sources is far less than the installed capacity of the power plants (Table 1). Thus the total installed capacity from renewable stands at 1313 MW which is 2.6 % of the total potential. Though capital subsidy and financial incentives are given by the Govt. of India, non-conventional energy sources are not able to bridge the gap between demand and supply of power. Geothermal energy, a non-conventional energy source, has not so far put to use though its power generating capacity is of the order of 10,600 MW. Neither the Govt. bodies nor the independent power producers (IPPs) are aware of this vast resource in the country. When non-conventional energy sources have the potential of generating about 60,600 MW power, which is more than the required amount for the next five years, then why Indian is not keen in developing this source in bridging supply-demand power gap? The answer lies in the 192 billion tones of recoverable coal reserves which is encouraging coal based power projects and hampering the healthy growth of non-conventional energy programs. In addition to coal, availability of naphtha in the world is adding fuel to the fire!.
Problems with conventional and non-conventional power projects
Though coal based and naphtha based power project are riding over other non-conventional energy sources, environmental problems associated with such mega-projects are many. India’s 67,000 MW of thermal power generating capacity constitutes about 70% of the country’s total power generation capacity. Due to oil shocks of 1970s, oil-fired power generation has come down to 15%. This has increased the dependence on coal based power projects due to 192 billion tones recoverable coal reserves available with India. Both oil-based and coal based power projects have similar environmental problems. Indian is already the sixth largest and second fastest growing contributor to greenhouse gases. Emissions of nitric oxide, sulphur dioxide and particulate matter is expected to treble in the next decade. The greatest unsolved problem with coal based power plants is the fly-ash. Indian coal has an ash content of 45 %. In contrast to most of the other (developed?) countries, which stopped promoting coal based thermal plants, these thermal power plants are thriving in India producing 75 million tones of fly-ash!! This production is expected to grow to 100 million tones in the next millennium. Only 3 % of this is being utilized! If all the bricks in the country were to be made of fly-ash, only 5% of 75 million tones will be put to use ( Business World, 1998). These toxic emissions are ruining historical monuments, such as the Taj Mahal.
Concluding remarks:
With escalating environmental problems with coal based project, non-participation of IPPs in hydro power projects, logistic and technical problems clouding other non-conventional energy projects, in future, India has to depend on clean, rural based, cheap energy sources and can not ignore its 10,600 MW geothermal potential. With available advance technology, all the medium enthalpy resources can be developed to support binary power projects. Compact generators like those developed by M/s Sowit and Turboden, Italy ( Angelino et.al., 1995) or like those developed by NEDO, Japan, are most suitable for generating rural based power from various thermal provinces. Till recently IPPs are not aware of geothermal resources of the country due to lack of awareness and mass communication. Conferences like the one conducted here, should be organized in India with major industrial participation.