Uttarakhand govt ‘to ink’ MoU with Iceland to explore geothermal power generation

DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand govt plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Iceland to explore the potential of geothermal power production in the state. The development coincides with the state hydro-power generation body, Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (UJVNL) aiming to double its power generation capacity from the existing 1,440MW to around 3,000MW in the next eight years.
UJVNL’s managing director, Sandeep Singhal, said on Tuesday that a two-member delegation had visited the Scandinavian country to study its mechanism. “We have found some sources of hot water geysers near Tapovan and Badrinath. Once the MoU is signed, we will be able to seek assistance from experts in Iceland to develop the geothermal power generation prospects in the state,” said Singhal.
Singhal added that UJVNL also plans to increase its current revenue from Rs 1,000 crore to around Rs 3,000 crore. “The UJVNL will establish three battery energy storage systems and a green hydrogen unit in the next few years. We are also working to develop hydro-kinetic turbines with the help of IIT-Roorkee. They will soon be installed in the hydropower units to increase efficiency,” he said.
He said that UJVNL is also studying the glacial lakes in the state with the help of environmental experts to frame the set of actions to be taken in case of a glacial lake outburst flood like the 2013 Kedarnath tragedy.
“It is important because such a catastrophe causes significant damage to our hydropower projects on the rivers. We also take the help of geologists before establishing any power generation unit in any area to study the possibilities of a landslide,” said Singhal.