The Government of India has officially released the National Policy on Geothermal Energy (2025), reinforcing its dedication to achieving the ambitious 2070 Net Zero Goal while enhancing the country’s energy security through a diversified mix of renewable sources.
With vast untapped geothermal resources, India is well-positioned to harness this clean and reliable energy for both power generation and direct-use applications such as district heating, agriculture, aquaculture, and space cooling and heating via Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs).
The new policy provides a comprehensive framework to guide exploration, development, and utilisation of geothermal energy across the country. It highlights research, inter-ministerial collaboration, and the adoption of global best practices for geothermal development, with regulatory responsibilities vested in the Ministry.
It also seeks to integrate geothermal energy within India’s Net Zero and renewable energy targets, while encouraging diverse applications such as electricity generation, space heating and cooling, agriculture (greenhouses, cold storage), tourism, and desalination.
Another priority area is technological innovation. The framework promotes R&D of advanced solutions including hybrid geothermal-solar plants, retrofitting abandoned oil wells, and Enhanced/Advanced Geothermal Systems (EGS/AGS). It also places emphasis on local innovation, joint ventures, and repurposing existing oil and gas infrastructure.
Collaboration is central to the policy, with provisions for partnerships with international geothermal bodies and pioneering nations. It also encourages coordination with state governments, oil and gas companies, and research institutions. In addition, it underlines the need to build a strong ecosystem for long-term development, coupled with capacity building, knowledge sharing, and human resource training.
As an initial step in geothermal exploration, the Ministry has sanctioned five projects in the sector. These include both pilot initiatives and resource assessment programmes aimed at assessing the viability and potential of geothermal energy in India.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) will continue to monitor progress while providing a supportive environment for developers, industries, and research institutions to play an active role in India’s clean energy transition.