UKHRUL, NOV 11: In a major stride towards development for India’s renewable energy sector, scientists from Arunachal Pradesh have begun the pumping test of the region’s first geothermal production well at Dirang, West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh.
Geothermal energy is heat derived from the Earth’s interior, generated primarily through the slow decay of radioactive particles. The geothermal well is drilled into the earth to tap into hot water or steam from a geothermal reservoir to generate electricity or for direct heating use.
Geothermal energy is considered a renewable resource as the Earth continually produces heat thus the project has been supported by the Arunachal Pradesh government and the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
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The project was carried out by the Centre for Earth Sciences and Himalayan Studies cooperating with Norway’s Geotechnical institute, Icelandic firm Geotropy eh and the drilling team from Guwahati Boring Service.
According to CESH, this crucial testing phase aims to assess the sustaiibility and productivity of the geothermal reservoir beneath Dirang which is essential to move ahead with applications such as building-sized heating and cooling systems, and agro-processing utilities.
The director of CESH, Tana Tage said the test marks a transformative step towards clean, renewable and region-specific energy solutions in the Eastern Himalayas.
He also added that the successful completion of the pumping test will enable the transition from exploratory drilling to operational deployment of geothermal systems in the Eastern Himalayas.
Once fully operational, this geothermal system is expected to offer several eco-friendly solutions such as drying of agricultural products, space heating and controlled-environment storage which could significantly improve agriculture and quality of life in the high-altitude Himalayan region.
Tage pointed out that the potential next steps include deeper drilling operations and the scaling of geothermal-powered infrastructure, with the long-term vision of making Dinang India’s first geothermal-powered town.