The policy is designed to make geothermal energy a key part of the country’s renewable energy mix and achieve India’s ambitious target of net-zero emissions by 2070.
Key Features of the Policy
- Recognition & Scope
- Identifies 381 hot springs & 10 provinces with potential.
- Supports high-enthalpy (electricity) and low/medium enthalpy (heating, cooling, agriculture, industry) uses.
- Covers resource assessment to end-use including hybrid systems, storage and repurposing oil/gas wells for geothermal energy.
- Sustainability & Regulation
- Ensures safe reinjection, rules compliance, and stakeholder consultation in sensitive areas.
- Provides single-window clearances via state nodal agencies.
- Development & Financing Model
- Allows 100% FDI, promotes domestic innovation & oil-gas collaboration.
- Offers risk-sharing, concessional loans, Viability Gap Financing, green bonds, feed-in tariffs, blended finance.
- Proposes Grants tax/GST exemptions, tax holidays, accelerated depreciation, property tax relief.
- Collaboration & Capacity Building: Promotes international cooperation & peer learning.
- Sites, Leases & Data Infrastructure
- Exploration leases: 3–5 years; development leases: up to 30+ years with concessional land.
- Establishes a centralized geothermal data repository with mandatory data submission.
About Geothermal Energy
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