Over 240 coal mines and several mineral mines are lying abandoned in India and can be used to produce power up to 5,000 MW, says research by ministry
The house of 'dirty' energy i.e. coal mines which are abandoned can be served as a green and clean energy option. To meet the rising demand of power, Centre is considering to use abandoned and flooded mines to harness cost-effective geothermal energy stored in earth crust, a clean and renewable energy source which has remained untapped in India until now though it is being used worldwide for the last 50 Years.
As per the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) estimate, India can generate nearly 5,000 MW power from over 240 abandoned and flooded coal mines.
“Abandoned and flooded coal mines have good potential as low-enthalpy geothermal resources. At the average depths of approx. 100-1500 m, there is an intense heat exchange between the rocks of the caved rock mass and the mine water which could be used for heating and cooling purposes,” says the latest research report of the MNRE.
Other minerals mines like bauxite, iron ore, manganese etc can also be used for the purpose. Similarly, a large number of oil and gas wells, with depths varying from 3 to 4 km, that are struck dry or cease to produce oil or gas can also be tapped for the geothermal energy. “Over 3000 MW equivalent of geothermal energy can also be considered to extracted from these mines and wells of oil and gas,” states the report authored by Girish Kumar, scientist and head of the Geothermal division of the MNRE along with Yogendra Singh.
Kumar says, “We have decided to use abandoned mines of Coal India Ltd to start with especially after successful experience of Norway and UK. Exploring such cheaper and green option is necessary to save expenses on fossil fuel whose resources are depleting fast.”
At present, India doesn't use geothermal power though states like Chhattisgarh and Gujarat are in the process of setting up such plants. Indian government is also drafting a national Policy on geothermal power with an aim to tap 340 “hot-spring spots” across 11 states to generate 10,000 MW power. Of this, half or 5,000 MW can be generated from the exhausted coal mines only without lesser infrastructure cost, feel MNRE scientists.
The hot-springs being explored for power generation include Unai and Jalgaon (Maharashtra), Puga (J&K) in the north-west of the Himalayas, Tatapani (Chhattisgarh) fields on the Narmada in central India, Godavari Basin, Manikaran (Himachal Pradesh), Bakreshwar (West Bengal), Tuwa (Gujarat), Rajgir & Munger (Bihar) and Jharkhand.
The largest producer of this environment friendly electricity is USA that generates 3,086MW of electricity. Other countries using geothermal power are USA, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, Japan and China with world production of 12,000 MW power. At east 78 countries use this energy for direct heating.
What is geothermal energy?
Anywhere on the earth, below the surface there is tremendous amount of heat which can form the source of electricity. Although ambient temperature in India varies drastically from -10 degree to 50 degree centigrade, temperature below earth in geothermal zones, could be as high as 150-160 degree centigrade. Geoexchange or ground source pumps installed nearly 100 meters beneath earth can tap steam and very hot water for direct heating or cooling. To get energy from crust of earth, we need to drill 1 km deep well which can drive turbines of electricity generators.
Does it come cheaper?
Though the capital cost involved in geothermal power plant is high due to costly exploration and drilling process, the power production is cheaper than the solar power plant. A one MW geothermal plant costs Rs30 crore (as per international estimate) while a solar power plant of similar capacity costs Rs7 crore. However, geothermal energy is available 24/7 so the total power production is almost five-times more as compared to the solar plant, says Girish Kumar.
Is it beneficial over other options?
The availability of geothermal power is most environment-friendly power, round the year 24x7 bases, not affected by the severity of climate during 6 to 7 winter months like hydro and like dependence on sun in solar photovoltaic plant. As per the international reports a 1 MW Geothermal Power Plant generates about 8.3 Millions Units (MU) per MW per anum compared to Solar 1.6 MU per MW, Wind 1.9 MU per MW and Hydro 3.9 MU per MW.
What about environment?
Carbon emission from Geothermal plant is less than 1/10 compared to coal-based plants. Total Carbon emission of 1 MW Geothermal plant per anum is nearly 794.5 tonnes while for 1 MW Coal/fossil fuel based plant it is is 8,365.8 tonnes.
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