India Explores Geothermal Energy from Abandoned Oil Wells

As per a Moneycontrol news report, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has commissioned IIT Madras to conduct a pilot project to test the feasibility of geothermal energy extraction using closed oil wells. The project is located in Bikaner, Rajasthan, and involves 3 abandoned oil wells. The proposed capacity for this pilot is 450 kilowatts (kW).

Use of Abandoned Infrastructure

India has over 13,348 abandoned oil wells, according to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. These wells are now being considered for repurposing to extract geothermal energy. The current plan involves minimal retrofitting, as the basic infrastructure is already in place.

Untapped Potential

A 2022 Geological Survey of India (GSI) report estimated a total geothermal potential of around 10,600 megawatts (MW) across the country. Despite this, India has not yet developed even 1 MW of geothermal power. Geothermal energy involves using heat from beneath the Earth's surface to produce electricity or provide heating.

Technology and Method

In this model, water or fluids are pumped into the existing oil wells, where underground heat raises their temperature. These heated fluids are then brought back to the surface to generate electricity or serve other energy needs. The government’s Renewable Energy Research and Technology Development Programme (RE-RTD) is funding the effort.

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Long-Term Plans 

The geothermal initiative aligns with India's energy plans. While geothermal is not part of the 2030 target of 500 GW non-fossil capacity, the government has set a longer-term goal of reaching 1,800 GW of non-fossil fuel-based power capacity by 2047 under the Viksit Bharat programme. This includes solar, wind, hydropower, bioenergy, and nuclear, but geothermal remains largely unexploited.

Conclusion

India is testing a low-cost model to generate geothermal power using unused oil wells. If proven feasible, it may add another source to the country’s growing clean energy mix.

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