Examine the significance of the National Policy on Geothermal Energy, 2025, in diversifying India's renewable energy mix.

Notified on 15 September 2025, the National Policy on Geothermal Energy is India's first dedicated framework for exploring and using geothermal heat, aimed at accelerating the clean energy transition in support of the Net Zero 2070 commitment [1]. Its significance lies in adding a firm, non-intermittent source to a mix presently dominated by variable solar and wind.

Unlocking an untapped resource base

• The Geothermal Atlas of India (2022) by the Geological Survey of India places theoretical potential at about 10,600 MW, with 381 hot springs mapped [1].
• 42 geothermal manifestations listed in the policy as priority sites for power and direct-heat use give exploration a concrete target [2].
• Key provinces — Puga and Chumathang (Ladakh), Manikaran (HP), Tattapani (Chhattisgarh) — remain largely unexploited despite exploration since the 1970s [3].

Diversifying beyond electricity

• The policy covers space heating/cooling, agriculture (greenhouses, cold storage), tourism and desalination [1] — a "beyond-megawatt" framing that displaces diesel and biomass heating in cold-desert regions.
• Direct-heat use in Ladakh strengthens off-grid energy security in a strategically sensitive border region.

Building the technology and partnership ecosystem

• Five RDD&D projects, including a pilot production plant and a solar–geothermal hybrid, mark the shift from scattered R&D to structured deployment [4].
• SCCL's 20 kW pilot plant at Manuguru, Telangana demonstrates PSU-led diversification [4].
• Institutionalised cooperation with Iceland, USA, Australia and Saudi Arabia channels technology transfer into domestic capacity [2].

Limits to note

• The sector remains pre-commercial: high drilling costs, thin resource data and no tariff or grid framework yet.
• Consultation with MoPNG, ONGC and Oil India signals reliance on hydrocarbon-sector drilling capability rather than a standalone industry [1].

By converting a long-neglected resource into a policy-backed programme, the 2025 policy modestly but meaningfully broadens India's renewable portfolio with baseload and thermal applications that solar and wind cannot supply. Its promise will be realised if exploration risk-sharing, resource validation and a clear pricing framework follow — turning a well-drafted policy into installed capacity aligned with SDG-7 and the Net Zero pledge.