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Source: The post is based on the article “India to build geothermal plant on Chinese border” published in The Hindu on 18th April 2023
What is the News?
India plans to build a major geothermal power plant in Arunachal Pradesh just across the border from where China is setting one up.
This will be the second geothermal project in the country, after the one at Puga Valley in Ladakh.
What is Geothermal Energy?
Geothermal energy uses the heat generated by the Earth’s core to produce clean energy. 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.
It is the only renewable energy source that is unaffected by day-night or seasonality variance and is available 24×7.
The main advantage of geothermal energy is its low cost and its ability to operate round the year at high capacity.
As a renewable resource, geothermal covers a significant share of electricity demand in Iceland, El Salvador, New Zealand, Kenya and the Philippines.
According to initial estimates, India has the potential to produce 10 GW of geothermal energy.
Government of India is considering providing viability gap funding for this energy segment which is at its nascent stage in India and yet to be explored deeply.
Challenges in setting up geothermal energy: High upfront cost of Rs 30 Cr/ MW site specific deployment, lack of load center and power evacuation facility nearby, high risk involved in exploration etc.
About Geothermal Power Plant in Arunachal Pradesh
India plans to build a major geothermal power plant in Arunachal Pradesh. A local university in the state will carry out research for the geothermal project in partnership with a Norwegian agency.
Note: Norway has extensive experience in geothermal energy use, largely in terms of widespread deployment of geothermal heating pumps.
The plan of this project comes in the backdrop of persistent border tensions with China and deteriorating bilateral ties after their troops clashed in Ladakh in June 2020, killing 20 Indian soldiers.
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