India's Geothermal Energy Development Initiative
India has embarked on a significant geothermal energy development program as part of its clean energy transition towards Net Zero by 2070. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is the nodal ministry implementing the National Policy on Geothermal Energy notified in September 2025, which aims to establish geothermal energy as a major renewable energy pillar through systematic exploration and deployment.
Key Milestones and Resource Potential
In July 2026, India achieved a historic milestone with the commissioning of the country's first two geothermal wells in Puga Valley, Ladakh, at over 14,000 feet above sea level. These 1,000-meter-deep wells, developed by ONGC Energy Centre, will support reservoir evaluation and pave the way for India's first 1-megawatt demonstration geothermal power project. The Geological Survey of India has mapped 381 hot springs and identified 10 geothermal provinces nationwide, with India's theoretical geothermal prospect standing at nearly 10.6 GW. Forty-two sites have been recognized as promising for power generation and direct heat use across provinces including the Himalayan Geothermal Province, Naga-Lusai, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Son Narmada Tapi (SONATA), West Coast, Cambay Graben, Aravalli, Mahanadi, Godavari, and South Indian Cratonic regions.
Current Project Status and Applications
Between July and August 2025, MNRE sanctioned five research and development projects covering resource assessment, indigenous technology development, and field demonstration. These include: Ankleshwar, Gujarat pilot project evaluating electricity generation by retrofitting unproductive oil and gas wells with completed field investigations; Gandhinagar demonstration project integrating solar and geothermal energy that has drilled three wells producing geothermal fluid at 70-80°C and demonstrated electricity generation of 50-90 kilowatts; Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh studies at five geothermal sites assessing resource potential; Hyderabad research project developing a geothermal cooling system for air conditioning; and Shallow Geothermal Energy pilot study developing analytical models for Borehole Heat Exchangers. Geothermal energy supports both power generation through steam-driven turbines and direct heat applications across district heating, agriculture, aquaculture, and space heating & cooling.
Policy Framework and International Collaboration
The National Policy facilitates repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal use, supports a national geothermal data repository, pilot projects, and Centres of Excellence. India is advancing through international collaborations with Australia, Iceland, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where geothermal energy has been designated as a key area of bilateral engagement. The Renewable Energy Research and Technology Development Programme (RE-RTD) is developing indigenous, cost-effective geothermal technologies through research institutions and industry partners.