Energetica India Magazine

Geothermal energy will not replace solar or wind, nor will it displace coal overnight. But as India works towards its 2030 ca- pacity targets and 2070 net zero commitment, dispatchable renewable technologies could play a stabilising role within a more complex grid architecture. India’s energy transition is often defined by the visible rise of solar parks and wind corridors. With a national target of 500 GW of non‑fossil fuel capacity by 2030 and a long‑term com‑ mitment to reach net zero-emission by 2070, renewable growth is central to economic and industrial strategy. Yet as renewable capacity expands, the challenge is evolving. The next phase of the transition is no longer simply about add‑ ing megawatts. It is about maintaining reliability, managing variability and strengthening grid resilience in a system where demand continues to rise. In this context, geothermal energy, long discussed but rarely prioritised, is returning to the conversation. India’s Untapped Resource Base The Geological Survey of India has identified more than 380 hot springs across seven geothermal provinces, with an esti‑ mated theoretical potential of around 10 GW. Regions such as Ladakh’s Puga Valley, parts of Gujarat and areas of Chhattis‑ garh and Jharkhand have been highlighted as suitable for pilot development, whether for electricity generation or direct heat applications. Unlike solar and wind, geothermal provides continuous, weather‑independent power. It operates as baseload electricity, delivering steady output irrespective of daylight hours or sea‑ sonal wind patterns. For a grid increasingly shaped by variable renewables, that characteristic is strategically significant. International precedents demonstrate the commercial via‑ bility of geothermal power. The United States has developed approximately 2.7 GW of installed geothermal capacity, while in Iceland, geothermal accounts for close to 30 percent of elec‑ tricity generation. These examples show that, where geology, policy and engineering capability align, geothermal can oper‑ ate reliably at scale. For India, the question is shifting from resource identification to practical deployment. Reliability in a Rapidly Changing Grid India’s power system is undergoing structural change. Coal production has exceeded one billion tonnes annually in recent years, and coal continues to account for roughly three‑quarters of electricity generation. At the same time, renewable capacity has grown rapidly, particularly in solar‑rich states such as Ra‑ jasthan and Gujarat. As renewable penetration increases, system operators face growing balancing requirements, especially during evening peak demand when solar output declines. Grid stability, dis‑ patchable capacity and system flexibility are becoming central considerations in planning. Geothermal’s value proposition lies precisely here. It does not compete with solar and wind; it complements them. By pro‑ viding stable, dispatchable clean power, geothermal can reduce reliance on flexible fossil backup and contribute to a more re‑ silient energy mix. In regions with suitable geology, it may also support localised industrial clusters through direct heat applications, reducing exposure to fuel price volatility while strengthening regional economic development. From Resource to Commercial Reality However, geothermal development is not straightforward. Converting underground heat into dependable electricity in‑ volves operating in some of the most demanding conditions in Geothermal Energy and the Challenge of Reliability in India’s Net Zero Pathway Satish Ingavale Managing Director John Crane India GEOTHERMAL ENERGY 60 energetica INDIA- Jul-Aug_2026