UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Geothermal Energy

Q1. With reference to the sources of heat in the Earth's interior, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The decay of radioactive isotopes such as those of uranium, thorium and potassium is a major source of the Earth's internal heat.
  2. Radioactive decay accounts for nearly all of the heat now flowing out of the Earth's interior.
  3. Part of the Earth's internal heat is residual heat from the planet's formation that has not yet been exhausted.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 only

Q2. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Geothermal power can serve as a source of baseload electricity, unlike solar photovoltaic and wind power.
  2. The heat that a geothermal power plant draws on comes from the Earth's interior and does not vary with weather or time of day.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q3. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. In geothermal power plants, the spent geothermal fluid is commonly pumped back into the underground reservoir after use.
  2. Injecting fluid into the subsurface can, in some cases, trigger micro-earthquakes.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q4. With reference to binary-cycle (Organic Rankine Cycle) geothermal power plants, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The geothermal fluid does not itself pass through the turbine; it transfers its heat to a separate working fluid.
  2. The working fluid has a lower boiling point than water, so it vaporises at temperatures too low to raise useful steam.
  3. Such plants are suitable only for high-temperature, steam-dominated reservoirs.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 only

Q5. With reference to Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs), consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. They use the comparatively stable temperature of the shallow subsurface to provide both heating and cooling for buildings.
  2. They are a means of generating electricity from geothermal resources for supply to the grid.
  3. They can be operated only in regions with high-temperature hydrothermal resources such as hot-spring provinces.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1 only

Q6. With reference to Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. They create artificial fracture permeability in hot but poorly permeable rock through hydraulic, thermal or chemical stimulation.
  2. They allow geothermal exploration beyond sites with naturally favourable reservoirs such as rift basins.
  3. Stimulating the rock to open fractures carries a risk of induced seismicity.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q7. Consider the following assertion: Repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells can lower the cost of developing geothermal energy. Which of the statements given below support/supports the above assertion?

  1. Geothermal energy is available round the clock, unlike solar and wind energy.
  2. Existing wellbores reduce the need for fresh deep drilling, which is a major upfront cost of geothermal projects.
  3. Subsurface data gathered during hydrocarbon exploration reduce the uncertainty of locating and assessing heat resources.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 2 only

Q8. With reference to power plants, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A solar photovoltaic plant and a geothermal plant of equal installed capacity will generally generate similar amounts of electricity over a year.
  2. A high capacity factor means that a power plant has a large installed capacity.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. Both 1 and 2
  • D. Neither 1 nor 2