subject: Geothermal Energy - CSIR - NGRI Technology [print this page] Geothermal Energy - CSIR - NGRI Technology
Geo-thermal Energy
Recently I visited CSIR Technofest 2010 showcased by Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, New Delhi, at India International Trade Fair in New Delhi, the Capital of India. In this technofest, I have seen a technology "Geo-thermal Energy" which was developed by NGRI (National Geophysical Research Institute), Hyderabad under the aegis of CSIR, New Delhi, India.
India, I heard the electricity can be generated from water dams i.e. hydro, coal i.e. thermal and air i.e. from sea winds. I really wondered that there is an energy called geothermal energy i.e. energy from steam/heat or hot water inside the earth. Electricity can be generated from this steam from hot water's steam. Geo (Earth) + thermal (heat) energy can be and is accessed by drilling water or steam wells in a process similar to drilling for oil.
Geothermal electricity is electricity generated from geothermal energy. Dry steam power plants, flash steam power plants and binary cycle power plants are the technologies are in use as of now. Geothermal electricity generation is currently used only in 24 countries while geothermal heating is in use in 70 countries.
Estimates of the electricity generating potential of geothermal energy vary from 35 to 2000GW. Current worldwide installed capacity is 10,715 megawatts (MW), with the largest capacity in the United States (3,086 MW), Philippines, and Indonesia.
Geothermal Electricity Plants
The largest group of geothermal power plants in the world is located at The Geysers, a geothermal field in California, United States. As of 2004, five countries (El Salvador, Kenya, the Philippines, Iceland, and Costa Rica) generate more than 15% of their electricity from geothermal sources.
I asked the scientist how the turbine will move. The concerned scientist explained me that steam produced by hot water will move the turbine and creates electricity. The heat will rotate the turbine and condensed steam convert into water again and this water can be sent into earth again. This gives continuous electricity from heat or steam.
So far we do not have geothermal electrical plant in India. Iceland is doing this electricity generation effectively. NGRI scientists went for some training to see the generation of electricity from steam or hot water.
NGRI has found the hot water springs inside the earth in several places. Ladakh is one of such places and in that place, less oxygen is a problem to work. In chattishgarh state, NGRI has found another place Tattapani is having hot water springs inside earth i.e. Geothermal energy.
Scientist concerned explained me how they will go to the places to see where the geothermal energy concentrated. They will check every 100 meters with their available instruments. They will work months together to know the exact place where this hot water and geothermal energy is concentrated.
With increasing environmental problems with coal based projects, India will need to start depending on clean and eco-friendly energy sources in future; one of which could be geothermal. In near future, India is going to have geothermal energy to fulfill more demanded electricity requirements.
The below links may be useful for more details and information
