Dirang Geothermal Well

Context: India’s Northeast witnessed a milestone in clean energy as Arunachal Pradesh’s Dirang became home to the region’s first geothermal production well.

About Dirang Geothermal Well:

• What it is? A renewable geothermal energy project using closed-loop binary Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) to tap Earth’s subsurface heat for sustainable applications like electricity, heating, and agricultural processing.

• A renewable geothermal energy project using closed-loop binary Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) to tap Earth’s subsurface heat for sustainable applications like electricity, heating, and agricultural processing.

• Location: Situated in Dirang, West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh, nestled in the eastern Himalayan terrain.

• Key Features:

• Developed by: Centre for Earth Sciences and Himalayan Studies (CESHS), Itanagar Supported by: Ministry of Earth Sciences, Arunachal Pradesh govt, with global scientific partners from Norway, Iceland, and Guwahati. Temperature Reservoir: ~115°C — ideal for direct-use geothermal technologies. Low-impact drilling with precision targeting fault zones between quartzite and schist formations.

• Developed by: Centre for Earth Sciences and Himalayan Studies (CESHS), Itanagar

• Supported by: Ministry of Earth Sciences, Arunachal Pradesh govt, with global scientific partners from Norway, Iceland, and Guwahati.

• Temperature Reservoir: ~115°C — ideal for direct-use geothermal technologies.

• Low-impact drilling with precision targeting fault zones between quartzite and schist formations.

• Significance:

• First such project in Northeast India, with potential to power Dirang entirely via geothermal energy. Reduces dependence on diesel and wood in cold Himalayan climates. Can improve agricultural productivity and quality of life in high-altitude areas. Adds to India’s geothermal potential (~10,600 MW), ensuring base-load renewable power, unlike intermittent sources like solar/wind.

• First such project in Northeast India, with potential to power Dirang entirely via geothermal energy.

• Reduces dependence on diesel and wood in cold Himalayan climates.

• Can improve agricultural productivity and quality of life in high-altitude areas.

• Adds to India’s geothermal potential (~10,600 MW), ensuring base-load renewable power, unlike intermittent sources like solar/wind.

Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus:

• GS Paper 1: Geography

• Geothermal energy as part of renewable resources and natural phenomena.

• GS Paper 2: Governance

• Role of decentralised clean energy in hill state development and tribal regions.

• GS Paper 3: Environment & Energy

• Renewable Energy Technologies, sustainable development, international scientific cooperation (e.g. Norway, Iceland). India’s clean energy targets, carbon neutrality, and implications for climate resilience.

• Renewable Energy Technologies, sustainable development, international scientific cooperation (e.g. Norway, Iceland).

• India’s clean energy targets, carbon neutrality, and implications for climate resilience.