Geothermal Energy

Key Highlights:

• India aims to harness geothermal energy as a round-the-clock clean power source, contributing to its Net Zero by 2070 target.
• The National Policy on Geothermal Energy was notified in September 2025 to explore and develop India's geothermal resources.
• India's first two geothermal wells were commissioned in July 2026 by ONGC Energy Centre in Puga Valley, Ladakh.
• These wells pave the way for India's first 1-megawatt demonstration geothermal power project.
• India has a theoretical geothermal prospect of nearly 10.6 GW, with 42 promising sites identified.
• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is the nodal ministry for geothermal energy implementation.

Detailed Insights:

• Geothermal energy is a constant, low-carbon, and weather-independent renewable source, unlike solar and wind.
• Earth's internal heat, generated by radioactive decay and residual heat, drives convection currents in the mantle.
• These currents lead to tectonic activity, creating reservoirs of hot water and steam in permeable rock in geologically active regions.
• Geothermal power generation involves tapping hot water/steam from deep wells to drive turbines and generate electricity.
• Used water is reinjected into the reservoir for replenishment, ensuring continued energy production.
• Geothermal energy also supports direct heat applications like district heating, agriculture, aquaculture, and space heating/cooling.
• India's 10 geothermal provinces include the Himalayan, Naga-Lusai, Andaman and Nicobar, and Son Narmada Tapi (SONATA) regions.
• Advanced technologies like Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) and Advanced Geothermal Systems (AGS) can expand exploration opportunities.
• Abandoned oil and gas wells can be repurposed for geothermal initiatives, leveraging existing infrastructure and expertise.
• The National Policy on Geothermal Energy prioritizes research, drilling, reservoir management, direct-use applications, and Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs).
• The policy encourages public and private sector participation and supports a national geothermal data repository and pilot projects.
• The Renewable Energy Research and Technology Development Programme (RE-RTD) by MNRE develops indigenous, cost-effective technologies.
• India collaborates with Australia, Iceland, and Saudi Arabia on geothermal energy research and technology exchange.
• Pilot projects are underway in Ankleshwar (Gujarat), Gandhinagar (Gujarat), Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh), and Hyderabad (Telangana).

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Geothermal Energy: Heat energy harnessed from within the Earth's interior, generated by radioactive decay and residual heat.
• Earth's Mantle: The semi-solid layer of the Earth between the crust and the outer core, where convection currents occur.
• Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS): Engineered reservoirs created to extract heat from hot, dry rock formations where natural permeability is low.
• Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs): Systems that use the stable temperature of the Earth near the surface for heating and cooling buildings.