What is geothermal energy? In which regions have experimental projects been set up in
India?
Answer:
- Geothermal energy refers to the heat and electricity produced by using the heat from the interior of the earth.
- It exists because the earth grows progressively hotter with increasing depth.
- Where the geothermal gradient is high, high temperatures are found at shallow depths.
- Groundwater in such areas absorbs heat from the rocks and becomes hot.
- It is so hot that when it rises to the earth’s surface, it turns into steam. This steam is used to drive turbines and generate electricity.
Two experimental projects: One is located in the Parvati valley near Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh and the other is located in the puga valley, Ladakh.