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India’s first national geothermal strategy, announced this year, is a big step forward in the country’s renewable energy journey. For decades, India’s clean-energy discussion has focused on solar parks, wind farms, and, more lately, green hydrogen. Despite the fact that India has over 380 documented hot springs spread across ten states, geothermal energy has received little attention. The new regulation represents a shift: India needs 24-hour, weather-proof renewable power, and geothermal meets that demand better than any other clean-energy source now in use.
The action is daring and appreciated. However, it also carries hazards that India has not previously faced. If geothermal development proceeds without strong safeguards, the government risks repeating the mistakes made with hydropower in the Himalayas and massive solar parks in environmentally sensitive areas. The true test will be India’s ability to blend ambition with restraint.
Why geothermal? Why now?
India’s power sector is approaching a point when the limitations of intermittent renewables are becoming obvious. Solar power plummets at dusk, wind patterns change with the seasons, and large-scale battery storage remains prohibitively expensive. Grid operators are already battling to handle peaks and troughs as renewable penetration increases.
Geothermal energy provides India with a reliable and clean source of electricity 24 hours a day. Nations such as Iceland, Kenya, and Indonesia have successfully employed geothermal energy for both power generation and industrial heating. India’s geothermal reserves encompass Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra, providing a geographical spread unlike any other renewable resource.
The goal of the new plan is to build geothermal plants, encourage direct uses like district heating and farming, attract private investment, and create a licensing system. If it works, it could give India a reliable source of renewable energy that works all the time and make it less reliant on fuels from other countries.
Community Participation: The Missing Links
There have been many fights in India over renewable energy. For example, solar parks in Rajasthan, wind farms in Karnataka, and hydropower in the Northeast have all faced opposition from the community. These problems arose not because people oppose sustainable energy, but because projects disregarded consultation, compensation, and local participation.
The geothermal policy mentions “stakeholders,” but does not specify actual measures for community consent or benefit sharing. This is a big mistake. Many geothermal sites are in tribal or environmentally sensitive areas where farming, springs, or tourism are important to the people who live there. If there isn’t open consultation, this method could lead to new arguments like the ones about hydroelectric projects.
India needs to improve its rules by adding things like community meetings, independent social impact assessments, and ways for people to complain about geothermal projects. It won’t work if switching to clean energy makes things even less fair.
The Case for Caution, not Delay
Despite the hazards, geothermal remains a potential option. Unlike solar or wind, it does not necessitate significant land acquisition. Unlike hydropower, it does not rely on monsoon-fed rivers. Unlike battery storage, it does not require rare minerals. Once developed, geothermal plants provide decades of reliable power with minimum emissions.
India’s energy system requires more sources than just massive solar parks and hydrogen projects. In this regard, the geothermal policy is relevant and technologically forward-looking.
However, the rollout must be slow, scientific, and consultative. The worst mistake would be to turn geothermal into another race for capacity numbers, as India has seen with solar manufacturing. This sector requires extensive geological investigations, long-term monitoring, and strict control, not quick project approvals.
A new frontier—but only if we remain grounded.
India’s geothermal strategy is a big step forward because it shows that the country is mature enough to know that solar and wind patterns alone won’t make the energy transition last. It’s a good idea to use the heat under our feet, but only if we know what the risks are.
India can get more reliable energy, lower emissions, and create jobs in the area with geothermal energy. But if it is pushed too hard without the right supervision, it can hurt it for a long time. India is entering a new field of energy. The most important thing now is to make sure that we move with science, caution, and the support of the community.
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About the author:
Anusreeta Dutta is a columnist and political ecology researcher with prior experience as an ESG analyst.
These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint.