Could India’s geothermal potential be unlocked by homegrown technology?

“Most existing research here relies heavily on spatial data, remote sensing and modelling, with limited fieldwork,” he notes. “India must invest in dedicated institutions focused on the Himalayan geology of the north-east, including geothermal, seismic, hydrological and ecological complexities.”

India’s National Policy on Geothermal Energy, published by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in September 2025, envisages the creation of a comprehensive geothermal resource data repository built through inter-agency and international collaboration.

It will consolidate datasets from government bodies, research institutes, and the oil and gas sector, including technical expertise, and equipment and well data. Eligible geothermal operators can access the repository if they commit to submitting data acquired from their surveys, ensuring coordinated research, resource evaluation and development planning.

Tage says the policy will boost the centre’s work, noting that it “facilitates access to dedicated financial schemes for exploration and pilot plants, streamlines approvals with state, defence and forest authorities critical in border districts like Tawang, and opens opportunities for public-private partnerships and foreign technology transfer”. The policy text noted that the government may look into the possibility of preferential tariffs and viability gap funding, which Tage says reduces regulatory uncertainty, accelerating the path from exploration to pilot demonstration.

However, Chandrasekharam countered that the policy is too general and vague. “Without greater clarity and specificity, especially on tariffs, it is unlikely to attract serious investment from international geothermal companies into India’s programme.”

He adds: “Just as India’s space programme began with international collaborations and gaining access to proven technology and expertise, we should approach geothermal development similarly and gradually build homegrown solutions to make the sector self-reliant.”

This article was originally published on Dialogue Earth under a Creative Commons licence.