Geothermal Energy

1. At a Glance

• Geothermal energy is heat energy stored beneath Earth's surface, tapped for electricity generation, space heating/cooling, agriculture, tourism, and desalination [1].
• India has an estimated theoretical geothermal potential of ~10,600 MW, based on 381 thermally anomalous areas identified by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) [1][2].
• Relevant for UPSC as a low-carbon, baseload-capable renewable source tied to India's 2070 Net Zero commitment, and for its overlap with Himalayan geology, GS-I/III linkage, and recent policy notification [1].
• Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is the nodal ministry [3].

2. Why in the News

• Government of India notified the National Policy on Geothermal Energy, 2025 on 15 September 2025, providing a comprehensive framework for exploration, development, and utilisation of geothermal resources [1][2].
• Five geothermal projects (Research, Development, Demonstration & Deployment — RDD&D) were sanctioned during July–August 2025, including a pilot production plant, resource assessment projects, and a solar-geothermal hybrid plant [4][1].
• Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) commissioned a 20 kW pilot geothermal power plant at Manuguru, Bhadradri Kothagudem district, Telangana [1].
• MNRE has stepped up global collaboration on geothermal energy, including with Australia, Iceland, Saudi Arabia, and the United States [5][1].

3. Background & Evolution

• India began geothermal exploration efforts as early as the 1970s [6].
• GSI published the "Geothermal Atlas of India, 2022", cataloguing thermally anomalous areas and estimating potential [1].
• 42 geothermal manifestations (surface expressions of subsurface heat, e.g., hot springs) have been identified as promising for power and direct-heat applications [6].
• Key identified geothermal provinces/sites: Puga and Chumathang (Ladakh — Himalayan Province), Manikaran (Himachal Pradesh), Tattapani (Chhattisgarh) [6][7].
• Culminated in the notification of the National Policy on Geothermal Energy (2025) — first dedicated national policy for the sector [1][2].

4. Core Static Facts

Aspect	Detail
Nodal Ministry	Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) [3][1]
Key survey body	Geological Survey of India (GSI) [1]
Reference document	Geothermal Atlas of India, 2022 [1]
Estimated potential	~10,600 MW [1][6]
Thermally anomalous areas identified	381 [1]
Geothermal manifestations identified	42 [6]
Key policy	National Policy on Geothermal Energy, notified 15 September 2025 [1][2]
Applications covered under policy	Electricity generation, space heating/cooling, agriculture (greenhouses, cold storage), tourism, desalination [1]
Pilot plant example	20 kW plant by SCCL at Manuguru, Telangana [1]
Recent sanctioned projects	5 RDD&D projects (July–Aug 2025) [4][1]
International partners	Australia, Iceland, Saudi Arabia, United States [5][1]
Major sites	Puga & Chumathang (Ladakh), Manikaran (HP), Tattapani (Chhattisgarh) [6][7]

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic

• Potential to reduce import dependence on fossil fuels for baseload power and direct heat uses (agriculture, cold storage) in remote/high-altitude regions [1].
• Solar-geothermal hybrid pilots aim to establish techno-economic viability before commercial scale-up [4].

Environmental

• Low direct greenhouse gas emissions compared to thermal power; supports India's 2070 Net Zero Goal [1].
• Direct-use applications (space heating in cold desert regions like Ladakh) can displace biomass/diesel-based heating.

Scientific/Technological

• Requires resource assessment (drilling, exploration) — GSI's Geothermal Atlas is the scientific baseline [1].
• RDD&D-stage projects indicate the technology is still pre-commercial in India, unlike geothermal-mature nations (Iceland, USA) [4].

Geopolitical/Strategic

• Bilateral/multilateral technical cooperation with geothermal-advanced nations (Iceland, USA, Australia, Saudi Arabia) for technology transfer [5].
• Ladakh sites (Puga, Chumathang) carry strategic value given border-region location and off-grid energy security needs.

Administrative/Governance

• First dedicated national policy (2025) signals a shift from scattered R&D pilots to a structured regulatory/promotional framework [1][2].
• Implementation involves multiple states (Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Ladakh/UT) — federal coordination needed for resource allocation and exploration rights.

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• 15 September 2025: National Policy on Geothermal Energy notified by Government of India [1][2].
• July–August 2025: Five geothermal RDD&D projects sanctioned, including pilot production plant and solar-geothermal hybrid plant [4][1].
• SCCL's 20 kW pilot plant commissioned at Manuguru, Telangana (reported in 2025 PIB release) [1].
• MNRE intensified global collaboration on geothermal technology and knowledge-sharing with Australia, Iceland, Saudi Arabia, and the US [5].

7. Prelims Hooks

• Nodal ministry for geothermal energy in India: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), not Ministry of Earth Sciences [3][1].
• "Geothermal Atlas of India" was published in 2022 by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) [1].
• India's estimated geothermal power potential: ~10,600 MW [1][6].
• GSI has studied 381 thermally anomalous areas across India [1].
• 42 geothermal manifestations identified nationally [6].
• National Policy on Geothermal Energy notified on 15 September 2025 [1][2].
• Key geothermal sites: Puga and Chumathang in Ladakh (Himalayan Province), Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh, Tattapani in Chhattisgarh [6][7].
• SCCL commissioned a 20 kW pilot geothermal power plant at Manuguru, Bhadradri Kothagudem district, Telangana [1].
• Five geothermal RDD&D projects sanctioned in July–August 2025 [4].
• International geothermal cooperation partners of India: Australia, Iceland, Saudi Arabia, United States [5].
• India began geothermal exploration efforts in the 1970s [6].
• The National Policy on Geothermal Energy covers applications including electricity, space heating/cooling, agriculture, tourism, and desalination [1].
• The policy is framed in support of India's 2070 Net Zero Goal [1].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III: Infrastructure — Energy; Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment; Achievements of Indians in science & technology.
• GS-I (peripheral): Physical geography — distribution of geothermal/volcanic zones, Himalayan geology.
• Plausible question stems: 1. Discuss the potential and challenges of harnessing geothermal energy in India in the context of its Net Zero 2070 target. (GS-III) 2. Examine the significance of the National Policy on Geothermal Energy, 2025, in diversifying India's renewable energy mix. (GS-III) 3. Geothermal resources in India remain largely underutilised despite decades of exploration. Analyse the reasons and suggest a way forward. (GS-III)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• National Policy/Programmes on Renewable Energy (Solar, Wind, Green Hydrogen Mission) — comparative policy framework and targets.
• India's 2070 Net Zero commitment (COP26) — overarching climate goal geothermal policy supports.
• Geological Survey of India (GSI) — mandate and other resource-mapping exercises.
• Himalayan geology and seismicity — scientific basis for geothermal hotspots like Puga/Chumathang.
• Ladakh's energy security and Union Territory development — strategic/border-region angle.
• Green Energy Corridor (GEC) Phase-II for Ladakh — related transmission infrastructure [8].
• International Solar Alliance (ISA) — India's renewable-energy diplomacy model, comparable to geothermal cooperation.
• Coal India/SCCL diversification into renewables — PSU transition strategies.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Confusing nodal ministry: it is MNRE, not Ministry of Earth Sciences or MoEFCC [3].
• Misdating the National Policy on Geothermal Energy — it was notified in September 2025, not earlier draft years.
• Confusing the Geothermal Atlas of India (2022, by GSI) with resource atlases from other agencies (e.g., solar/wind atlases by NIWE).
• Mixing up site names: Puga/Chumathang (Ladakh) vs Manikaran (Himachal Pradesh) vs Tattapani (Chhattisgarh) — each is a distinct geothermal province.
• Assuming geothermal is only for electricity — the policy explicitly also covers space heating/cooling, agriculture, tourism, and desalination [1].