Dirang Geothermal Project

News: The Centre for Earth Sciences and Himalayan Studies (CESHS) has successfully established the first geothermal production well in Northeast India at Dirang, located in the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. Dirang Geothermal Project

About Dirang Geothermal Project

• The first geothermal production well has been successfully drilled in Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh. 
• The Dirang region is located within a medium to high enthalpy geothermal zone.
• With a temperature gradient of around 115°C, it is well-suited for efficient and low-impact geothermal drilling.
• Funding for the project is jointly provided by the Government of Arunachal Pradesh and the Ministry of Science and Earth Sciences, Government of India.
• The plant uses a closed-loop binary Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) process to convert geothermal heat to electricity.
• Advanced geological, structural, and chemical analyses were conducted over two years prior to drilling.
• Drilling targeted a fault zone between quartzite and schist rock formations, ensuring efficient access and minimal environmental disturbance.
• Potential applications of geothermal energy include: Drying of agricultural produce (fruits, nuts, meat), space heating and controlled-environment storage
• These interventions are expected to significantly improve living conditions and agricultural productivity in high-altitude Himalayan areas.

About Geothermal Energy in India 

• As per the Geothermal Atlas of India (2022), the country has 381 thermally anomalous sites and a generation potential of around 10,600 MW.
• India’s first geothermal project was in Manuguru, Telangana (20 kW pilot by SCCL).
• Puga Valley (Ladakh) and Khammam (Telangana) also have geothermal projects, though with varying progress.
• India has international collaborations in geothermal energy with Iceland, Saudi Arabia, and the USA under RETAP (2023).