Project InnerSpace, a nonprofit promoting global geothermal energy, has launched its GeoFund initiative in India with the Tapri Geothermal Cold Storage Project in Himachal Pradesh.
Led by Geotropy, the pilot project uses geothermal energy to power a 500-tonne cold storage and crop drying facility for local apple farmers.
It aims to reduce post-harvest losses, increase farmer incomes, and boost local employment.
Jamie Beard, executive director of Project InnerSpace, said the Tapri project serves as a model for sustainable agriculture and rural development, with similar initiatives planned across the Asia region and beyond — it also represents an endorsement of geothermal energy.
“A widely recognised barrier to the rapid expansion of geothermal energy is the lack of pilot projects to demonstrate impact across different technologies, applications, geologists and geographies globally, where it can be most influential in economic development, energy security and prosperity,” he commented.
“The Tapri pilot project will tackle one of India's most important agricultural challenges, increase revenues and be a global model. We look forward to supporting the Geotropy team in the development of this important project.”
GeoFund was set up to support scalable, high-impact geothermal pilots that traditional financing alternatives may overlook.
With the Tapri pilot project, it is having a direct impact on an industry of vital strategic significance to livelihoods in the area.
The new cold storage facility will provide 500 tonnes of storage and fruit dehydration capacity, helping farmers maintain quality, reduce wastage and sell at premium prices.
The project will also boost local economic growth by creating employment at the local level, reducing crop loss, and generating more predictable revenue sources for farmers and workers.
“This project is more than just a cold storage unit — its purpose is to ensure that our community can develop economically by using its geothermal capacity,” said GeoTropy CEO, Vijay Chauhan.
“Our farmers are already understanding the importance of this work, and now people are waiting to use the facilities available to us.”