Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Geothermal Country Notes

India
It has been estimated by the Geological Survey of India that the geothermal potential is in the region of 10 000 MWe, widely distributed between seven geothermal provinces. The provinces, although found along the west coast in Gujarat and Rajasthan and along a west-southwest - east-northeast line running from the west coast to the western border of Bangladesh (known as SONATA), are most prolific in a 1 500 km stretch of the Himalayas.

The resource is little used at the moment but the Government has an ambitious plan to more than double the current total installed generating capacity by 2012. This would be achieved by utilising both conventional fossil fuels and the range of renewable energies at India's disposal (bioenergy, hydro, geothermal, solar and wind).

The Tattapani field in the far northwest of the Himalayas is estimated to have a potential of 1 MWe and if this could be developed it would substantially benefit the isolated villages in the mountainous areas.

Direcutilisation is almost entirely for bathing and balneological purposes but greenhouse cultivation of fruit could be developed extensively in the future.