India's Geothermal Energy Pilot Plant Launched In Telangana

In a noteworthy advancement for India's renewable energy future, Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) has successfully commissioned a 20 kW pilot geothermal power plant in the Manuguru area of Bhadradri Kothagudem district, Telangana.

Geothermal energy refers to heat energy from the earth — geo (earth) + thermal (heat). Geothermal technology extracts the heat found within the subsurface of the earth, which can be used directly for heating and cooling, or converted into electricity.

The pilot plant uses closed-loop Binary Organic Rankine Cycle Process technology, which has been successfully demonstrated.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is actively implementing the "Renewable Energy Research and Technology Development Programme (RE-RTD)" to promote indigenous technologies and manufacturing for new and renewable energy, including geothermal.

However, no specific allocation in the R&D budget has been made for geothermal energy over the past five years by MNRE. Instead, the Ministry of Coal has allocated Rs 2.42 crore, which was used to establish the pilot plant in Telangana, as per PIB release.

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) conducted extensive studies in 381 thermally anomalous areas and has published the "Geothermal Atlas of India, 2022," estimating a potential of about 10,600 MW of geothermal power.

International collaborations are also playing a crucial role in advancing geothermal energy in India. Under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in October 2007, with Iceland, geothermal energy has been identified as an area of cooperation.

Similarly, an MoU with Saudi Arabia signed in October 2019, and the Renewable Energy Technology Action Platform (RETAP) launched with the US in August 2023, have included geothermal energy as a focus area.

MNRE provides up to 100 per cent financial support to government and non-profit research organisations, and up to 70 per cent to industry, startups, private institutes, entrepreneurs, and manufacturing units under the Renewable Energy Research and Technology Development Programme for geothermal energy R&D projects.