Andhra to Host Geothermal Pilot Project

Syllabus- Economy [GS Paper-3]

07/11/2025

87 2 minutes read

Andhra to Host Geothermal Pilot Project UPSC

Context

In the recent past, the Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) has stated that it will start the largest geothermal energy technology pilot project in the Araku valley and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

Key Highlights

Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) deals in energy efficiency services.
It is a collaborative venture of four government-owned enterprises (PSUs) such as NTPC Limited, Power Finance Corporation (PFC), Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) and Power grid corporation of India, which is a ministry of power.
It was founded with the aim of spearheading massive energy saving initiatives in India, a Super ESCO (Energy Service Company).
Other EESL Important Initiatives:
- - UJALA: The sale of LED bulbs and appliances;
  - Smart Metering: Installation of new metering infrastructure;
  - National Efficient Cooking Programme (NECP): The induction cookers should be encouraged to cut down the costs of cooking;
  - Energy Efficient Fans Programme (EEFP): The supply of BLDC fans throughout the country.

Araku Valley

It is situated in the Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district of Andhra Pradesh in Eastern Ghats.
It has a hill named Galikonda Hill.

Geothermal Energy

It is the heat that is stored within the crust of the earth and is a result of the natural heat of the earth most notably because of the decay of the naturally radioactive isotopes of uranium, thorium and potassium.
The temperature of the Earth rises as one descends with an average temperature of about 25-30degC/km, relative to the ambient temperature of the surface (geothermal gradient).
This transfer of heat into the surface is mainly through conduction of the heat that is within the interior.
Types:
- - High-enthalpy Resources: Geysers and hot springs that are mostly found in the volcanic areas are used in the production of electricity.
  - Low to Medium-enthalpy Resources: Direct-use applications and geothermal heat pumps are better applied to such as hot rocks and shallow ground layers.
Geothermal plants are also economically viable in the long run as they provide high capacity utilization (>80%), reliable baseload supply and no repetitive fuel costs.
They are capital intensive and location specific and they demand an initial investment in exploration, drilling and infrastructure.
Global Geo-Thermal Capacity (15.4 GW): United States, and then Indonesia, the Philippines, Turkey, and then New Zealand.

Geothermal Potential sites in India

Since 1973, Geological Survey of India (GSI) has discovered 381 hot springs whose surface temperatures are between 35degC and 89degC.
It can be applied successfully, and Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) and Advanced Geothermal Systems (AGS) are being developed.
India is in medium to low zone (100-180degC) which is distributed in 10 geothermal provinces.
In India, it was estimated that there are approximately 10,600 MW of potential geothermal power (Geothermal Atlas of India, 2022).

Source: The Indian Express