The Government of India has officially notified the National Policy on Geothermal Energy (2025), marking a significant milestone in the country’s clean energy journey and reinforcing its commitment to the ambitious Net Zero 2070 target. This policy is set to unlock the vast untapped potential of geothermal energy across India, contributing to a diversified and sustainable energy mix.
India’s geothermal resources, largely unexplored, offer promising opportunities for clean power generation as well as direct-use applications such as district heating, agricultural support, aquaculture, and climate control through Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs). The policy provides a comprehensive framework to foster exploration, innovation, and development in the geothermal sector.
Key Features of the Policy Include:
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Research and Collaboration: Promoting focused research, inter-ministerial coordination, and adoption of international best practices, with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) overseeing regulatory and stewardship roles.
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Alignment with National Goals: Integrating geothermal development with India’s broader renewable energy targets and Net Zero ambitions.
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Diverse Applications: Facilitating geothermal use in power generation, space heating and cooling, agriculture (including greenhouses and cold storage), tourism, and desalination projects.
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Technological Innovation: Supporting R&D for cutting-edge systems such as hybrid geothermal-solar plants, Enhanced/Advanced Geothermal Systems (EGS/AGS), and repurposing abandoned oil wells.
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Local Innovation & Partnerships: Encouraging local entrepreneurship, joint ventures, and reutilization of existing oil and gas infrastructure.
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Collaborative Ecosystem: Fostering partnerships with international geothermal experts, state governments, oil and gas firms, and research bodies to build a vibrant sector ecosystem.
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Capacity Building: Enhancing knowledge sharing and developing skilled human resources to sustain long-term sector growth.
To kickstart geothermal exploration, the government has sanctioned five pilot projects aimed at assessing the feasibility and potential of geothermal energy in various regions across the country.
The MNRE will oversee the implementation and provide an enabling environment for developers, industries, and researchers to actively contribute to India’s clean energy transition.
