India’s Geothermal Energy Potential
India’s Geothermal Energy Potential
1. Geothermal energy is derived from the Earth’s internal heat and provides a low-carbon, weather-independent source of energy.
2. It can generate round-the-clock electricity and can also be used directly for heating, cooling, agriculture, aquaculture and district-heating applications.
3. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) notified the National Policy on Geothermal Energy in September 2025 and is the nodal ministry for its implementation.
4. In July 2026, the ONGC Energy Centre commissioned India’s first two geothermal wells in Puga Valley, Ladakh.
5. Puga Valley lies at an altitude of over 14,000 feet and is known for hot springs and underground heat reserves.
6. The two geothermal wells at Puga Valley are 1,000 metres deep and will support reservoir evaluation.
7. The Puga Valley wells are expected to support India’s first 1 MW demonstration geothermal power project.
8. Geothermal heat originates from radioactive decay of elements such as uranium, thorium and potassium, along with residual heat from Earth’s formation.
9. Faults and fractures in geologically active regions allow heat to move closer to the surface, forming reservoirs of hot water and steam in permeable rocks.
10. In geothermal power generation, steam from deep wells drives a turbine connected to a generator; the used water is condensed and reinjected into the reservoir.
11. The Geological Survey of India has mapped 381 hot springs and identified 10 geothermal provinces in India.
12. India’s theoretical geothermal-energy potential is nearly 10.6 GW, with 42 sites identified as promising for power generation and direct heat use.
13. India’s geothermal provinces include the Himalayan, Naga-Lusai, Andaman and Nicobar, SONATA, Cambay Graben, Aravalli, Mahanadi, Godavari and South Indian Cratonic regions.
14. Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) and Advanced Geothermal Systems (AGS) can expand geothermal exploration beyond naturally favourable sites.
15. The National Policy on Geothermal Energy supports exploration, drilling, reservoir management, Ground Source Heat Pumps, geothermal data repositories, pilot projects, Centres of Excellence and repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells where feasible.
Must Know Terms :
1.Geothermal Energy
Energy obtained from the Earth’s internal heat. It can be used for electricity generation and direct applications such as heating, cooling, agriculture and aquaculture.
2. Puga Valley
A major geothermal site in Ladakh, located at an altitude of over 14,000 feet. India’s first two geothermal wells were commissioned here in July 2026.
3. National Policy on Geothermal Energy, 2025
Notified by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in September 2025. It provides a framework for geothermal exploration, drilling, reservoir management, pilot projects and private-sector participation.
4. Geological Survey of India (GSI)
India’s principal organisation for geological mapping and assessment of mineral and geothermal resources. It has mapped 381 hot springs and identified 10 geothermal provinces in India.
5. Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS)
A technology that creates or improves underground pathways in hot rocks to circulate water and extract heat, allowing geothermal energy to be developed beyond natural hot-water reservoirs.
6. Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs)
Systems that use the relatively stable temperature below the Earth’s surface for efficient space heating and cooling. The National Policy on Geothermal Energy supports their development and use.
MCQ :
1. Geothermal energy is primarily derived from:
(a) Solar radiation trapped in rocks
(b) Heat from the Earth’s interior
(c) Ocean tides near volcanic islands
(d) Wind currents passing through mountain valleys
2. Which one of the following is a characteristic feature of geothermal energy?
(a) It is available only during daytime.
(b) It depends entirely on seasonal rainfall.
(c) It is weather-independent and can provide round-the-clock energy.
(d) It can be used only for electricity generation.
3. The nodal ministry for implementing India’s National Policy on Geothermal Energy is the:
(a) Ministry of Power
(b) Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
(c) Ministry of Earth Sciences
(d) Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
4. The National Policy on Geothermal Energy was notified in:
(a) September 2024
(b) January 2025
(c) March 2025
(d) September 2025
5. India’s first two geothermal wells were commissioned at:
(a) Puga Valley, Ladakh
(b) Cambay Graben, Gujarat
(c) Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh
(d) SONATA region, Madhya Pradesh
6. Puga Valley is located at an altitude of:
(a) Over 5,000 feet
(b) Over 8,000 feet
(c) Over 14,000 feet
(d) Over 20,000 feet
7. The geothermal wells commissioned at Puga Valley are:
(a) 500 metres deep
(b) 1,000 metres deep
(c) 2,000 metres deep
(d) 5,000 metres deep
8. The geothermal wells at Puga Valley are expected to support India’s first:
(a) 1 MW demonstration geothermal power project
(b) 10 MW commercial nuclear plant
(c) 100 MW solar-geothermal hybrid project
(d) 1 GW hydroelectric project
9. Geothermal heat within the Earth is generated mainly due to:
1) Radioactive decay of uranium, thorium and potassium
2) Residual heat from the Earth’s formation
3) Heat produced by solar radiation beneath the crust
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
10. Geothermal reservoirs of hot water and steam are generally formed where:
(a) Dense forests prevent heat loss from the soil
(b) Ocean currents carry warm water inland
(c) Faults and fractures allow underground heat to move closer to the surface
(d) Rivers deposit sediments over impermeable rocks
11. In a geothermal power plant, electricity is generated when:
(a) Steam drives a turbine connected to a generator
(b) Groundwater directly charges batteries
(c) Fossil fuels heat underground reservoirs
(d) Solar panels heat the geothermal fluid
12. Reinjection of used geothermal water into the underground reservoir helps in:
(a) Increasing surface-water pollution
(b) Replenishing the resource for continued energy production
(c) Producing enriched uranium
(d) Creating new tectonic faults
13. The Geological Survey of India has mapped how many hot springs in India?
(a) 181
(b) 281
(c) 381
(d) 481
14. India’s theoretical geothermal-energy potential is estimated at nearly:
(a) 1.06 GW
(b) 5.6 GW
(c) 10.6 GW
(d) 25.6 GW
15. Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) are used to:
(a) Improve underground pathways in hot rocks for heat extraction
(b) Convert geothermal steam into fossil fuel
(c) Locate only natural hot springs at the surface
(d) Generate electricity using wind turbines
