JULY 20238TOP STORYTORRENT POWER VENTURES TO COMBINE NATURAL GAS WITH GREEN HYDROGENONGC TO MAP INDIA'S 10 GW GEOTHERMAL ENERGY POTENTIALThe government-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC) is planning to airlift drilling equipment to Ladakh in order to restart its pilot project while also mapping India's geothermal energy resources, which have a potential of 10 gigawatts (GW). The country-wide geothermal energy potential of India is roughly 10 GW. The DG of ONGC Energy Centre, Ravi, stated, "We intend to map it and use the information to best exploit the clean and green energy."The thermal energy produced and kept in the earth's crust is known as geothermal energy. It originates from heat produced during the planet's initial creation and the radioactive decay of elements. In addition to other things, ONGC and Iceland GeoSurvey (ISOR) signed a contract last month for the exploration and development of geothermal energy in India. The Ladakh project last year marked the beginning of the ISOR partnership.Initial research has shown that Ladakh, Himachal, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh are among the states with substantial geothermal resources. First, we are focusing on Ladakh, then Gujarat, and finally the south," he remarked. The original study was carried out by the Geological study of India (GSI) and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). The places in Gujarat that have been identified include Cambay Basin and Ankleshwar. It's Kowthalam in Andhra Pradesh."Geothermal energy is safe, sustainable, and available constantly. It is environmentally friendly and sustainable. Otherwise, the majority of renewable energy sources aren't always accessible. We may move forward to a commercial-scale power plant if the pilot project is successfully completed, added Ravi. After experiencing issues with shallow reservoirs, the state-run oil exploration company was forced to halt its trial project at Puga in Ladakh last year. But this year, the business intends to restart drilling at the Puga location. The integrated power company of the Torrent Group, Torrent Power Limited, has started work on a pilot project to mix green hydrogen (GH2) and natural gas in its city gas distribution (CGD) network, which is a ground-breaking move towards a greener future. The project, which is expected to be finished in eight months, marks a significant step for Torrent Power's entry into the GH2 market in India and highlights its dedication to promoting a cleaner and more sustainable energy mix."The ambitious pilot project, utilising an Alkaline Electrolyzer, aims to blend approximately 2.5 percentage GH2 into the CGD network, positioning it as one of the most significant private sector blending initiatives in the country." When combined with the current natural gas supply, "GH2, produced through water electrolysis powered by renewable sources, offers a gradual transition towards a cleaner energy alternative," it was said.Torrent Power hopes to establish itself as a premier end-to-end GH2 solution provider for industrial and commercial players across India by leveraging its strong foothold in the renewable energy industry. The firm' proactive strategy for incorporating GH2 into its daily operations is consistent with its dedication to sustainability. Additionally, Torrent Power is aggressively looking at the development of green ammonia geared towards export, demonstrating its keen interest in other states and its eagerness to increase the variety of green energy sources it offers.Currently, 4.1 GW of renewable energy alternatives make up the majority of Torrent Power's installed power producing capacity. Its capacity is made up of 2.7 GW of gas and 1.07 GW of renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. As part of its deliberate efforts to increase its renewable generation capacity in line with its sustainability goals and the government's vision of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, the firm also has a further 0.7 GW of renewable capacity in various stages of construction.
< Page 7 | Page 9 >