Within the Puga Valley, within the Himalayan area of Ladakh, the state-run Oil and Pure Gasoline Company (ONGC) is constructing India’s first geothermal vitality plant. Two tectonic plates collide beneath Ladakh, making a hotspot for geothermal phenomena like sizzling springs, and it’s this vitality that ONGC is eager to faucet – a doubtlessly zero-carbon supply of renewable vitality.
“With this challenge, we hope to place India on the geothermal map of the world,” says Ravi, director common of the ONGC Vitality Centre (OEC), a physique arrange by ONGC with a mandate to analysis and develop commercially viable sources of renewable vitality. “Within the preliminary stage, we intend to drill a 1,000-metre properly, draw vitality from temperatures above 200 levels Celsius, and produce 1 megawatt [MW] of electrical energy. In superior levels, we are able to attain as much as 100 MW,” he tells The Third Pole.
Nonetheless, the challenge is presently stalled after the sudden launch of geothermal fluid – heat water from underground containing numerous dissolved minerals – right into a stream in Puga in August 2022. This led to fears that the vitality challenge might pollute water sources and destroy habitat within the fragile Himalayan area.
Puga Valley geothermal challenge suffers setbacks
Geothermal vitality is warmth discovered just below the earth’s floor, normally near tectonically energetic areas. This vitality can be utilized both straight, similar to by channelling steam rising from the bottom by a constructing, or not directly, similar to utilizing heated geothermal fluids or steam to energy a turbine and generate electrical energy.
In February 2021, the OEC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Improvement Council – the elected physique that governs the area – to construct a 1 MW experimental geothermal energy plant. On 4 August 2022, ONGC started drilling exploratory wells to judge the area’s geothermal potential. Inside days, temperatures discovered have been better than anticipated at 180-190 C at 40 metres beneath the floor, Ravi of the OEC informed The Third Pole.
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To make sure that these tasks transfer ahead with out having a detrimental influence on the setting, India should develop a geothermal coverage that pulls from experiences of nations like China and Iceland, and prioritises environmental and social influence.
Kunzes Dolma, researcher, Reykjavik College
The digging, nonetheless, led to the launch of geothermal fluid at a bigger quantity and stress than anticipated, and excess of the gear in place might deal with. “The amount and pressurisation of the discharge have been sudden … We had calculated that there could be 1-2 kg per centimetre sq., however there have been really over 4 kg,” says Ravi.
As an alternative of the fluid being pumped again underground after its warmth had been extracted, a few of it flowed into the Puga Stream. This led to complaints from an area civil society organisation, the Wildlife Conservation and Birds Membership of Ladakh, which visited the location on 16 August 2022 and took images. The challenge has not superior since that point.
In accordance with Ravinder Kumar, Ladakh’s Secretary of Energy Improvement and New Renewable Vitality, the challenge’s postponement was brought on by two fundamental points. First, he says, the challenge suffered a severe setback when the preliminary contractor for ONGC stop in the midst of work due to an absence of related expertise. Second, the challenge underestimated the extent of apparatus wanted to handle the geothermal liquid launched, resulting in unanticipated leaks.
“Preparations are already underneath method for the transportation of the large drilling equipment to Ladakh for the aim of managed drilling. Transporting this big gear is a significant problem given the robust terrain and logistical challenges alongside the 750km highway from Jammu to Leh,” Kumar tells The Third Pole.
Kumar says he expects the geothermal vitality challenge to renew in 2024.
Environmental dangers and advantages of geothermal vitality
When accomplished correctly, geothermal tasks can provide a zero-carbon supply of renewable vitality. Nonetheless, there are some environmental dangers, notably within the improper discharge of drilling-related contaminants, which might result in harmful chemical compounds coming into floor water. Since geothermal vitality is launched close to the place tectonic plates rub in opposition to one another, drilling can even set off earthquakes.
The Puga Valley comprises quite a few vital wetlands, together with the Tsomoriri Lake, which has been designated as a Ramsar website of worldwide significance. “These are important breeding locations for migratory birds, together with the black-necked crane, bar-headed goose, and ruddy shelduck, in addition to different uncommon chicken species whose populations are dwindling worldwide. Large-ranging results might consequence from modifications to the water’s chemical composition and temperature,” Tsewang Namgail, director of the conservation organisation Snow Leopard Conservancy India, tells The Third Pole. “Animals [like snow leopards] wouldn’t have wherever to go if the water sources develop into contaminated,” he says.
Labzong Vissudha, president of the Wildlife Conservation and Birds Membership of Ladakh which first documented the leakage of geothermal fluid into the stream in Puga, reiterates the identical worries and is looking for elevated challenge oversight. Whereas ONGC has acknowledged the incident and pledged to enhance the challenge, Vissudha is anxious that such accidents would possibly occur once more.
Kunzes Dolma, a geothermal professional and researcher at Reykjavik College in Iceland, argues that geothermal vitality has the least detrimental environmental impacts of all vitality sources. In addition to producing no carbon emissions, she emphasises that, in contrast to giant photo voltaic vegetation, geothermal vitality doesn’t require giant areas of land, and doesn’t produce e-waste similar to used photo voltaic panels.
Dolma says that geothermal initiatives in distant areas like Ladakh, which undergo winter vitality shortages, maintain important potential. “Geothermal vitality can be used to warmth greenhouses, poultry farms, and residences along with producing electrical energy. To make sure that these tasks transfer ahead with out having a detrimental influence on the setting, India should develop a geothermal coverage that pulls from experiences of nations like China and Iceland, and prioritises environmental and social influence,” she tells the Third Pole.
Issues and alternatives for the native inhabitants
Jigmet Lamoo, a member of the semi-nomadic Changpa tribe who stay within the Puga Valley, has blended emotions concerning the resumption of the geothermal vitality challenge. He anticipates financial progress and job alternatives, however he’s additionally fearful about shedding pastureland for the tribe’s cattle. Whereas the plant itself could solely want restricted land, it’s being constructed subsequent to meadows the place the Changpa graze their pashmina goats, yaks, sheep and horses. Lamoo means that the challenge – both on account of restrictions from authorities authorities or impacts on water assets – might drive them to graze their animals within the mountains as an alternative, the place snow leopards are steadily noticed.
Ravi of the OEC, nonetheless, says the challenge won’t influence pasture within the space. “There are not any indicators of grass within the arid space surrounding the challenge. I don’t consider it’s interfering with any grazing exercise, and if it does occur once more, we might not let it. As well as, we now have a accountability to safeguard the neighborhood and setting, and we are going to do every part inside our energy to take action. I consider that this challenge will probably be a recreation changer for your complete area, so folks ought to wait and observe what ONGC is doing there,” he tells The Third Pole.
Acho Sharma Namrak, a councillor for the Karzok Constituency, which incorporates Puga Valley, within the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Improvement Council (LAHDC0-Leh), says: “Individuals have been ready for this challenge’s completion for many years, hoping for vitality and job alternatives. Moreover, a memorandum of settlement between the federal government and the corporate ensures job alternatives for locals,” he says.
Nonetheless, Vissudha of the Wildlife Conservation and Birds Membership of Ladakh suggests that the majority locals nonetheless have no idea the main points of the challenge, and that transparency and session with native residents should be ensured. “The corporate ought to seek the advice of with all related stakeholders and inform them of its plans. To ensure that environmental pledges and protections are upheld, we’re asking for full entry to the Memorandum of Understanding [MOU],” he says.
This story was revealed with permission from The Third Pole.
