Why in the News?
The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has launched its first National Policy on Geothermal Energy, aiming to create a regulatory and developmental framework for tapping geothermal resources.
India’s Geothermal Policy, 2025: Key Highlights
- Launch: India’s first National Policy on Geothermal Energy was officially notified in September 2025 by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
- Alignment with Goals: The policy is designed to support Net Zero by 2070, dovetailing with India’s renewable energy targets.
- Scope: Applies to both power generation and direct-use applications such as district heating, agriculture, aquaculture, spa tourism, and industrial cooling.
- Implementation Agency: MNRE is the nodal agency; other ministries, state governments, oil & gas firms, and academic institutions will collaborate.
- Financial & Regulatory Support:
- Tax incentives, grants, concessional financing, long-term leases (up to 30 years).
- Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to offset high upfront costs (₹36 crore per MW).
- Open access waivers, must-run status, and parity with other renewables.
- Repurposing Wells: A strong focus on repurposing abandoned oil & gas wells for geothermal energy; MNRE already working with ONGC, Vedanta Ltd’s Cairn Oil & Gas, Reliance.
- Global Collaboration: Partnerships with Iceland, Norway, US, and Indonesia for R&D, Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) and Advanced Geothermal Systems (AGS).
- Pilot Projects: Five sanctioned projects for resource assessment and demonstration across multiple regions.
Geothermal Energy Scenario in India:
- Potential: Estimated at 10.6 GW (10,600 MW), as identified by the Geological Survey of India (GSI).
- Mapping: Over 381 hot springs mapped with surface temperatures ranging 35°C – 89°C.
- Global Context: According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), India, US, and China together account for 75% of global potential for next-gen geothermal.
- Projects & Status:
- NO grid-connected geothermal plants yet; focus is on pilot, demo, and R&D projects.
- 20 kW pilot binary-cycle plant commissioned at Manuguru, Telangana.
- Ongoing pilots: Puga (Ladakh), Chhumathang (Ladakh), Cambay (Gujarat), Barmer (Rajasthan).
- IIT Madras + Vedanta project: retrofitting abandoned oil wells in Barmer to generate 450 kWh of electricity.
- Future Roadmap:
- 10 GW target by 2030, ~100 GW potential by 2045.
- Vision 2047: Viksit Bharat, hybrid solar-geothermal projects, and heating for cold regions (Ladakh, NE, Andamans).
Major Geothermal Sites in India
| Region/State | Site/Province | Key Features & Notes |
| Ladakh (Himalayan Province) | Puga Valley | High-temperature hot springs; identified by US ITA (2024) as most promising; pilot projects underway. |
| Chhumathang | Similar potential as Puga; targeted for power generation and direct heating applications. | |
| Himachal Pradesh | Manikaran | Popular hot spring zone; suitable for pilot geothermal plants and tourism-linked heating. |
| Satluj, Beas, Spiti Valleys | Multiple geothermal spots mapped by GSI; moderate-to-high potential. | |
| Uttarakhand | Tapoban & Alaknanda Valley | Himalayan geothermal systems; identified for research and pilot use. |
| Gujarat | Cambay Graben | Abandoned oil wells available for repurposing (ONGC, Reliance, Vedanta pilots). |
| Lasundra (Vadodara) | Known hot spring site; potential for direct-use applications. | |
| Chhattisgarh | Tattapani Field | Well-studied geothermal site; suitable for direct heat use and demonstration projects. |
| Jharkhand / West Bengal | Damodar Valley | Identified geothermal prospects; part of GSI mapping. |
| Surajkund (Jharkhand) | Among hottest springs in India (85–87°C). | |
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | Volcanic geothermal fields | High geothermal promise; strategic as islands rely on costly power (₹30–32/unit → could drop below ₹10–11). |
| Telangana | Manuguru | 20 kW pilot binary-cycle geothermal power plant commissioned. |
| Other States | Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Meghalaya | Multiple small hot spring clusters mapped by GSI; low-to-moderate potential. |
| [UPSC 2013] Consider the following:
1. Electromagnetic radiation 2. Geothermal energy 3. Gravitational force 4. Plate movements 5. Rotation of the earth 6. Revolution of the earth Which of the above are responsible for bringing dynamic changes on the surface of the earth? (a) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only (b) 1, 3, 5 and 6 only (c) 2, 4, 5 and 6 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 * |
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