What Happened
- The CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute (CSIR-NGRI), Hyderabad, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Shri Ram Institute for Industrial Research (SRI) to collaborate on geothermal energy research and development in India.
- The partnership will focus on designing and implementing pilot geothermal plants at identified locations across India to assess viability and promote indigenous geothermal technologies.
- CSIR-NGRI is already leading geothermal exploration using a multidisciplinary approach in two key regions: the Puga-Chumathang-Panamik Geothermal Province in Ladakh and the Tattapani Geothermal Province in Chhattisgarh.
- Earlier in 2026 (February 23-28), CSIR-NGRI launched India's first specialised training programme on geothermal energy exploration — "Geosciences for Geothermal Energy Exploration (G2E2)" — providing interdisciplinary training in heat-flow studies, hydrogeochemistry, and advanced geophysical methods.
- This partnership follows India's first National Policy on Geothermal Energy, notified by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in September 2025, which targets 10,600 MW of geothermal power potential.
Static Topic Bridges
India's Geothermal Energy Potential and Policy Framework
Geothermal energy harnesses heat from within the Earth — either from hot springs, steam vents, or deep drilling into hot rock formations — to generate electricity or provide direct heating/cooling. India has an estimated geothermal potential of approximately 10,600 MW spread across 381 hot springs and 10 geothermal provinces. Despite this, geothermal power generation in India remains at near-zero levels — virtually all potential is untapped.
- India's geothermal provinces: Himalayan (Puga, Ladakh), West Coast, Cambay Basin, Son-Narmada-Tapi lineament, Godavari Basin, Mahanadi Basin, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
- Best prospects: Puga Valley (Ladakh) and Tattapani (Chhattisgarh) — highest surface heat flow
- National Policy on Geothermal Energy 2025 (MNRE): aims to develop geothermal electricity, heating/cooling, agriculture, aquaculture, and tourism applications
- Policy incentives: long-term concessional loans, Sovereign Green Bonds, Viability Gap Funding (VGF), GST/import duty exemptions, tax holidays
- By-product minerals (silica, borax, cesium, lithium) from geothermal fluids can enhance project economics; regulated under MMDR Act, 1957
Connection to this news: The CSIR-NGRI and SRI partnership is a direct implementation step following the 2025 National Policy — translating policy ambitions into ground-level R&D and pilot plants at the most promising geothermal sites.
CSIR-NGRI: India's Geophysical Research Institution
The CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute (CSIR-NGRI) is one of India's premier scientific institutions under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), headquartered in Hyderabad. It is the nodal agency for geophysical research in India, including seismology, mineral exploration, groundwater studies, and energy resource assessment. CSIR-NGRI plays a central role in all three pillars of geothermal development: resource assessment (identifying viable sites), technology development (exploration and drilling methods), and capacity building (training geoscientists).
- Established: 1961; under CSIR, Ministry of Science and Technology
- Headquarters: Hyderabad, Telangana
- Key research areas: seismology, hydrogeology, geomagnetism, mineral prospecting, geothermal energy
- G2E2 training (Feb 2026): covered heat-flow studies, hydrogeochemistry, ERT (Electrical Resistivity Tomography), EVRI, magnetotellurics, seismic methods
- Active geothermal exploration sites: Puga-Chumathang-Panamik (Ladakh), Tattapani (Chhattisgarh)
- SRI (Shri Ram Institute for Industrial Research): industrial R&D institution based in Delhi, focuses on applied chemistry and industrial technology development
Connection to this news: CSIR-NGRI brings the geoscientific expertise and existing exploration data, while SRI brings industrial and applied research capabilities — together they address both the upstream (resource identification) and midstream (technology development, pilot plants) challenges of India's geothermal sector.
Geothermal Energy in the Global and Indian Clean Energy Context
Globally, geothermal power provides reliable, baseload renewable electricity — unlike solar or wind which are intermittent. Countries like Iceland (30% of electricity from geothermal), Kenya, Philippines, and Indonesia have successfully commercialised geothermal energy. For India, geothermal's key advantage is that it can provide 24/7 clean power without storage requirements, complementing the solar-heavy renewable mix. The 2025 National Policy also allows geothermal projects to extract valuable by-product minerals (lithium, cesium, borax) from geothermal brines — potentially making projects financially viable even at modest power generation scales.
- Geothermal power: baseload, 24/7, capacity factor ~90% (vs. solar ~20-25%, wind ~25-35%)
- Global geothermal capacity: ~15 GW installed; US, Indonesia, Philippines, Turkey, Kenya lead
- Iceland: ~30% electricity from geothermal; nearly 90% of heating from geothermal
- By-product minerals from geothermal brine: lithium (key for EV batteries), cesium (electronics), borax (glass, ceramics), silica
- India's renewable energy target: 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030 (geothermal can contribute as reliable baseload)
- Puga Valley, Ladakh: hottest known geothermal site in India; subsurface temperatures estimated at 200-300°C
Connection to this news: The CSIR-NGRI/SRI partnership is a small but significant step toward unlocking India's 10,600 MW geothermal potential — particularly important for Ladakh's energy security (currently dependent on expensive diesel imports and limited grid connectivity) and for diversifying India's predominantly solar-wind renewable portfolio with reliable baseload capacity.
Key Facts & Data
- CSIR-NGRI and SRI signed MoU for geothermal energy R&D and pilot plant development
- India's estimated geothermal potential: ~10,600 MW across 381 hot springs and 10 provinces
- Best sites: Puga Valley (Ladakh), Tattapani (Chhattisgarh), Andaman & Nicobar Islands
- G2E2 training programme: February 23-28, 2026 at CSIR-NGRI, Hyderabad
- National Policy on Geothermal Energy 2025: notified by MNRE on September 15, 2025
- Geothermal brine by-products (lithium, cesium, borax, silica) regulated under MMDR Act, 1957
- India's current geothermal power generation: effectively zero — all potential untapped
- SRI: Shri Ram Institute for Industrial Research, Delhi — industrial applied R&D institution