Geothermal Energy Resources, India: Country Update

Abstract

India’s ambition to increase power from the present 90895 to 95895 MWe by 2015 is going result in 870 million tones of CO2 emissions. Whether this increase will put the country on zero deficit with regard to electricity has to be seen in the next couple of years. However, India can become energy independent and be on the top of low carbon emission list within the non OECD countries if it utilizes even a fraction of the 18348 x 108 GWhr power available from its wet and EGS sources. As on today the building sector utilizes 33 % of thermal power and food processing industry utilizes 13% of thermal power. Geothermal energy can easily replace this energy sources in both the sectors thus earning about 2640 x 106 euros under CER. Major percent of electric power is generated by Public sector companies. These major industries control the socio-economic as well as political growth of the country. Hence environmental pollution is not a concern to these industries since the affected are those who have no say in the policies. Hence pollution tax will be only in the law books. Further there is no adequate structure to implement capacity building in the geothermal sector. With the new initiative taken by a few institutes and companies, the country may be put in to a situation of piling up carbon credits in the near future.