India is moving in the right direction for renewable energy diversification. To further facilitate this push, it has adopted the National Policy on Geothermal Energy. The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) was behind this new policy announcement. It intends to tap into the heat energy that is already stored beneath the Earth’s crust, which will make geothermal energy an essential component of India’s long-term energy plan.
The policy comes at a critical juncture for India’s renewable energy landscape. Today, this landscape is most readily recognizable through the lens of solar, wind, bioenergy and hydropower installations. By introducing geothermal energy, India seeks to enhance its renewable mix and provide a more stable baseload supply of energy. For one, this new initiative bolsters the country’s commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070. It shows an unparalleled commitment to moving to sustainable energy production writ large.
Exploring Geothermal Resources
Geothermal resources in India extend across 13 states. These areas are home to states such as the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, and Gujarat. According to GSI, there are 381 hot springs found all over the country. This finding points to a hopeful and lucrative opportunity for expanding geothermal energy. These provinces all contain significant geothermal reservoirs that are largely considered untapped, creating opportunities for innovation and energy generation.
The MNRE’s National Policy establishes the beginning framework for opening up these resources. Perhaps most notably, it provides new opportunities and incentives for collaboration among public and private sectors. The policy provides a positive, detailed blueprint to guide development. It supports investments in geothermal projects and vigorously supports research to maximize the potential of these resources.
Policy Implementation and Initial Projects
Besides these minor clarifications, the MNRE has already taken a monumental step by approving five pilot projects. These demonstration projects are intended to spur future development of geothermal energy in India. There’s a very good reason for that—these projects will primarily concentrate on resource evaluation and testing technologies that can be harnessed to extract usable geothermal energy. The lessons learned from these pilot projects will provide useful guidance. These lessons learned will help inform future geothermal efforts all over the country.
Through the implementation of these pilot projects, India is making meaningful efforts to strengthen its resilient renewable energy landscape. The bill highlights the growing value of geothermal energy not just as a standalone source of renewables, but in the pursuit of adding value to established renewable sources. This integrated approach is more important than ever as India looks towards the future to achieve its ambitious environmental targets.
Commitment to Sustainability
The rollout of the National Policy on Geothermal Energy emphasizes India’s commitment to sustainable and responsible energy development. India has been taking steps to diversify its renewable energy portfolio beyond solar and wind to include geothermal sources. This strategy will improve energy security and lower the strategy’s environmental footprint.
Geothermal energy will provide India with low-cost and reliable base-load power supply solutions. Aside from supporting local economies through job creation, it’ll help advance technology. As the country progresses toward its net-zero emissions target, this new policy marks a pivotal moment in India’s renewable energy journey.