In News:

In a significant advancement for clean energy in Northeast India, Dirang in Arunachal Pradesh has become the site of the region’s first operational geothermal production well. This marks a pivotal step in utilizing Earth’s internal heat for sustainable energy generation in the eastern Himalayas.

Project Details

• Location:Dirang, West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh
• Terrain: Eastern Himalayan region

Technology Used

• The project employs a closed-loop binary Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system, which captures subsurface geothermal heat for applications such as:
  • Electricity generation
  • Space heating
  • Agricultural processing
• Reservoir Temperature: Approx. 115°C — optimal for direct-use geothermal systems.
• Drilling Approach: Low-impact precision drilling aimed at fault zones between quartzite and schist rock formations.

Institutional Collaboration

• Implementing Agency:Centre for Earth Sciences and Himalayan Studies (CESHS), Itanagar
• Supported by:
  • Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India
  • Government of Arunachal Pradesh
  • International partners from Norway, Iceland, and Guwahati research institutes

Significance

• First-of-its-kind in the entire Northeast region
• Potential to make Dirang energy self-reliant through clean geothermal power
• Helps replace diesel and firewood in cold climates, reducing emissions
• Can enhance agricultural productivity and living standards in high-altitude areas
• Strengthens India’s geothermal potential (~10,600 MW), offering reliable base-load renewable energy unlike solar or wind