{"id":83877,"date":"2026-09-05T18:17:25","date_gmt":"2026-09-05T12:47:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=83877"},"modified":"2026-09-05T18:18:08","modified_gmt":"2026-09-05T12:48:08","slug":"geothermal-energy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/05-09-2026\/geothermal-energy","title":{"rendered":"Geothermal Energy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS1\/Physical Geography, GS3\/Renewable Energy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India\u2019s geothermal push gained momentum with the commissioning of its <strong>first <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/21-07-2026\/india-first-geothermal-wells\"><strong>two geothermal wells at Puga Valley, Ladakh<\/strong><\/a><strong>,<\/strong> opening prospects for round-the-clock renewable power.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Geothermal Energy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Geothermal energy harnesses the <strong>natural heat within the Earth<\/strong> to generate electricity or provide direct heating and cooling.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is <strong>weather-independent and available round the clock, <\/strong>unlike solar and wind, making it a potential source of firm renewable energy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Earth\u2019s internal heat arises from <strong>radioactive decay of uranium, thorium and potassium<\/strong> and residual heat from planetary formation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In geologically active regions, faults and fractures allow heat to approach the surface, creating reservoirs of hot water and steam.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"815d56\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"524\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-39-1024x524.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-83878\" style=\"--dominant-color: #815d56; width:557px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-39-1024x524.png 1024w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-39-300x154.png 300w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-39-768x393.png 768w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-39.png 1113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"9fb4d3\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"517\" height=\"317\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-40.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-83879\" style=\"--dominant-color: #9fb4d3; aspect-ratio:1.630945925962439;width:469px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-40.png 517w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-40-300x184.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 517px) 100vw, 517px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How does it generate power?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Deep wells bring hot water\/steam to the surface.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Steam drives a <strong>turbine connected to a generator<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Condensed water is <strong>reinjected into the reservoir<\/strong>, supporting continued production.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Geothermal heat can also be directly used for <strong>district heating, agriculture, aquaculture and space heating\/cooling<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>India\u2019s Geothermal Potential<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India\u2019s diverse geology provides significant geothermal opportunities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>381 hot springs<\/strong> mapped by the Geological Survey of India (GSI).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>10 geothermal provinces<\/strong> identified.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Theoretical geothermal potential: <strong>nearly 10.6 GW (10,600 MW)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>42 sites<\/strong> recognised as promising for power generation and direct heat use.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Major provinces include Himalayan, Naga-Lusai, Andaman &amp; Nicobar, Son-Narmada-Tapi (SONATA), West Coast, Cambay Graben, Aravalli, Mahanadi, Godavari and South Indian Cratonic regions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"bad8e6\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"535\" height=\"455\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-42.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-83881\" style=\"--dominant-color: #bad8e6; width:505px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-42.png 535w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-42-300x255.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 535px) 100vw, 535px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/21-07-2026\/india-first-geothermal-wells\"><strong>Puga Valley: A Landmark Development<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In <strong>July 2026<\/strong>, ONGC Energy Centre commissioned India\u2019s <strong>first two geothermal wells<\/strong> at <strong>Puga Valley, Ladakh<\/strong>, located at an altitude of over <strong>14,000 feet<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The two wells are <strong>1,000 metres deep<\/strong> and will facilitate reservoir evaluation and pave the way for India\u2019s first <strong>1-MW demonstration geothermal power project<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Temperatures of up to <strong>135\u00b0C<\/strong> have been recorded beneath Puga Valley, according to the infographic on page 2 of the source document.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Emerging Applications &amp; Projects<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India is moving from resource assessment towards field demonstrations:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Ankleshwar, Gujarat:<\/strong> Pilot to assess electricity generation by retrofitting unproductive oil and gas wells.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Gandhinagar, Gujarat:<\/strong> Solar-geothermal demonstration; three wells produce geothermal fluid at <strong>70\u201380\u00b0C<\/strong>, with <strong>50\u201390 kW<\/strong> electricity generation demonstrated.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh:<\/strong> Geothermal assessment at five sites.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hyderabad:<\/strong> Development of geothermal cooling for air-conditioning.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Shallow geothermal:<\/strong> Borehole Heat Exchangers being studied for heating and cooling.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Concerns in Geothermal Energy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>High Upfront Cost:<\/strong> Deep drilling, exploration and reservoir assessment require substantial capital; resource uncertainty increases financial risk.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Geological Uncertainty:<\/strong> India\u2019s geothermal resources are unevenly distributed, and identifying commercially viable reservoirs requires extensive geological and geochemical surveys.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Induced Seismicity:<\/strong> Fluid injection\/reinjection, particularly in <strong>Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS)<\/strong>, can trigger micro-earthquakes and, in some cases, larger seismic events.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Water-related Concerns:<\/strong> Geothermal operations may require significant water, while poor management can affect groundwater availability or quality.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Environmental Impacts:<\/strong> Potential issues include <strong>land disturbance, gas\/mineral release, thermal pollution and groundwater contamination<\/strong> if geothermal fluids are not properly managed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Technological Challenges:<\/strong> EGS\/AGS, deep drilling and efficient reservoir management require advanced technology and specialised expertise.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Resource Depletion:<\/strong> Poorly managed extraction can reduce reservoir pressure\/temperature, affecting long-term productivity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Remote Locations:<\/strong> Many promising Indian sites, such as <strong>Puga Valley in Ladakh<\/strong>, are geographically difficult to access, increasing infrastructure and transmission costs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Limited Commercial Experience in India:<\/strong> Despite a theoretical potential of <strong>~10.6 GW<\/strong>, India is still at the demonstration stage; commercial-scale geothermal power generation is yet to be established.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Regulatory &amp; Investment Challenges:<\/strong> Large-scale deployment requires clear regulations, risk-sharing mechanisms, private investment and reliable geothermal resource data.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Policy Push<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>National Policy on Geothermal Energy, 2025<\/strong>, with <strong>MNRE as nodal ministry<\/strong>, seeks to make geothermal energy a major renewable-energy pillar. It promotes:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Research, drilling and reservoir management;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs);<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>National geothermal data repository;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pilot projects and Centres of Excellence;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Greater public-private participation;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>RE-RTD programme<\/strong> supports indigenous and cost-effective geothermal technologies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"cfdde5\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"644\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-41.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-83880\" style=\"--dominant-color: #cfdde5; aspect-ratio:1.5082705116006734;width:515px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-41.png 644w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-41-300x199.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 644px) 100vw, 644px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Forward<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India\u2019s theoretical potential remains largely untapped, while commercial-scale geothermal power generation is yet to be established.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS)<\/strong> and <strong>Advanced Geothermal Systems (AGS)<\/strong> can expand exploration beyond conventional geothermal zones.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>International cooperation with <strong>Australia, Iceland and Saudi Arabia<\/strong> can further support technology development and knowledge exchange.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Globally, installed geothermal capacity reached <strong>15.67 GW by end-2025<\/strong>, with Indonesia, the US, Philippines, T\u00fcrkiye and New Zealand accounting for around <strong>67%<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressNoteDetails.aspx?NoteId=159841&amp;ModuleId=3&amp;reg=48&amp;lang=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source: PIB<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> Context <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> India\u2019s geothermal push gained momentum with the commissioning of its first two geothermal wells at Puga Valley, Ladakh, opening prospects for round-the-clock renewable power. <\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> About Geothermal Energy <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Geothermal energy harnesses the natural heat within the Earth to generate electricity or provide direct heating and cooling. <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> It is weather-independent and available round the clock, unlike solar and wind, making it a potential source of firm renewable energy. <\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/05-09-2026\/geothermal-energy\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-83877","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83877","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=83877"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83877\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":83884,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83877\/revisions\/83884"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=83877"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=83877"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=83877"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}