- India’s geothermal energy potential includes: 450 GW for electricity generation, 11,000 GW for industrial heat applications & 1,500+ GW for cooling demand
- Experts say geothermal energy can reduce pressure on India’s power system and diversify energy sources.
- Using geothermal cooling could reduce electricity consumption by 30-40%.
- Geothermal energy could also support India’s growing data centre industry through cooling applications.
- Development has remained limited so far because of: High exploration risks, Uncertain drilling outcomes & Lack of strong policy support
- New drilling technologies and India’s National Policy on Geothermal Energy could accelerate deployment.
- The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has approved five geothermal R&D projects.
- Key pilot projects include: IIT Madras developing a 500 kW geothermal power plant in Ankleshwar, Pandit Deendayal Energy
- University working on a geothermal-solar hybrid project, Resource assessment projects in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang region & IIT Delhi and Osmania University researching geothermal cooling applications
- Oil India has indicated the possibility of setting up a 20–25 MW geothermal plant in Tawang.
- Reliance Industries is also exploring a 50 MW geothermal project in Madhya Pradesh
