Itanagar, Apr 30: Director of the Centre for Earth Sciences and Himalayan Studies (CESHS), Tana Tage, represented Arunachal Pradesh at a national stakeholder consultation workshop on “Unlocking Geothermal Potential to Accelerate India’s Energy Transition” held at Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru on Thursday.
The workshop, jointly organised by the National Institute of Advanced Studies and the Environmental Defense India Foundation, brought together a diverse group of stakeholders including policymakers, scientists, geologists, industry experts, and civil society representatives, creating a vital platform for meaningful deliberations and knowledge exchange on advancing geothermal energy in India.
Deliberations highlighted that geothermal energy in India remains largely underexplored, with limited development over the past five decades. Participants stressed the need for robust policy frameworks, technological advancement, and strong institutional collaboration to unlock its vast potential.
During the session, Tage presented the geothermal prospects of Arunachal Pradesh, outlining both opportunities and challenges in developing projects in remote and geologically complex regions. He also shared insights on the proposed National Geothermal Policy 2026 by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, underlining the need for structured incentives, risk-sharing mechanisms, and sustained institutional handholding to enable scientific and economically viable development of geothermal resources.
The discussions further underscored the importance of establishing a clear regulatory framework, enhancing data acquisition and resource assessment, encouraging private sector participation, and building technical capacity in the emerging sector.
The workshop concluded with a consensus that geothermal energy holds significant promise as a reliable and sustainable component of India’s clean energy transition.