For a variety of factors, India’s significant wind energy potential is still unrealized. Examine and recommend a course of action. (Answer in 150 words)
Model Answer Puga Valley, Ladakh: Known as India's most promising geothermal field, it has high heat flow and geothermal springs. Tatapani, Chhattisgarh: Located in the Sarguja district, this site has been extensively studied for its geothermal potential. Manikaran, Himachal Pradesh: A well-known siRead more
Model Answer
- Puga Valley, Ladakh: Known as India’s most promising geothermal field, it has high heat flow and geothermal springs.
- Tatapani, Chhattisgarh: Located in the Sarguja district, this site has been extensively studied for its geothermal potential.
- Manikaran, Himachal Pradesh: A well-known site with geothermal springs, often visited for its religious significance.
- Bakreswar, West Bengal: Features geothermal manifestations like hot springs with potential for energy production.
- Cambay Basin, Gujarat: Offers potential for geothermal energy development due to its favorable geological conditions.
- Tattapani, Jharkhand: A smaller site with potential for localized geothermal energy projects.
Reasons for India’s Nascent Stage in Geothermal Energy Utilization
- Availability of Alternative Energy Sources:
- India historically relied on abundant and inexpensive coal for energy.
- The focus has shifted to solar, wind, and green hydrogen under missions like the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
- High Initial Costs:
- Developing a geothermal power plant costs $2-$7 million per megawatt.
- Significant upfront investment is required for exploration, drilling, and plant setup.
- Technical Challenges:
- Deep drilling operations require expertise, which has only recently become available in India.
- Restricted Locations:
- Geothermal plants need to be close to reservoirs due to the impracticality of transporting steam or hot water.
- Most geothermal sites are in remote areas, complicating grid connectivity.
- Limited Awareness and Policy Push:
- Compared to solar and wind energy, geothermal energy lacks widespread awareness and government incentives.
Steps Toward Development
India aims to harness 10 GW of geothermal energy by 2030 through international collaborations with nations like the US and New Zealand. With its reliability and low carbon footprint, geothermal energy can significantly enhance India’s energy mix as infrastructure and expertise improve.
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India ranks third in the world in terms of energy consumption. India ranks fourth in the world in terms of wind power. At COP26, the country raised its target of 500 GW of energy from non-fossil fuels by 2030. It is the largest renewable energy expansion program in the world The major reasons for unRead more
India ranks third in the world in terms of energy consumption. India ranks fourth in the world in terms of wind power. At COP26, the country raised its target of 500 GW of energy from non-fossil fuels by 2030. It is the largest renewable energy expansion program in the world
The major reasons for underutilization of wind energy energy in India are:
1. Complex land use
Investing in wind energy without land acquisition regulations makes it difficult to acquire land. This has increased land costs for wind farms and increased the risk to local wildlife.
2. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
The pandemic and delayed supply chain issues are to blame for the delay in realizing all that can be done.
3. Skills and manpower requirements
Concerns are also being raised about the sector’s technical capacity and human resource requirements, particularly in the emerging offshore wind projects.
4. Need for legal framework
A comprehensive regulatory framework, incentives for producers, solutions to land access challenges, spending on skills development and emphasizing the domestic supply chain are all needed to comply solve these problems
5. High capital requirements
Offshore wind farms require higher capital than onshore wind farms due to deep sea installations, advanced technologies, high capacity, distance from shore and deep sea pipelines
Despite the potential, the geographical spread of wind power in India is limited. One of the main reasons for this limitation is the lack of accepted infrastructure to support wind energy systems. For example, the infrastructure needed to transport wind energy from remote locations to a grid is often awkward or non-existent, which can drive up costs.
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