New Energy Frontiers
Geothermal, Tidal and Other Niche Sources
How geothermal, tidal and wave energy work, where they succeed abroad, and why they remain niche in India.
Some clean sources depend on special geography.
Geothermal
- Uses heat from inside the Earth.
- Iceland, Kenya, Indonesia and the Philippines generate significant power this way.
- Provides firm power around the clock.
- India has potential in places like Puga Valley in Ladakh, where ONGC has explored a pilot, but no commercial plants yet.
- In 2025, India released a national geothermal policy.
Enhanced geothermal
New drilling techniques borrowed from the oil industry could expand geothermal to more locations.
Tidal energy
- Uses the rise and fall of tides.
- France’s La Rance plant has run since 1966; South Korea’s Sihwa is the largest.
- India’s Gulf of Kutch and Sundarbans were studied, but projects were dropped as too costly.
Wave energy
Still experimental worldwide.
Why they’re niche
- Limited sites.
- High costs compared with solar and wind.
- Environmental impacts on estuaries.
The Ladakh hot springs
Hot springs in Ladakh's Puga Valley signal geothermal heat. A pilot plant could power remote villages that now rely on diesel.
Thinking every clean source suits every country
Geothermal and tidal depend on special geography.
Key takeaways
- Geothermal provides firm power in places like Iceland and Kenya.
- India has potential in Ladakh but no commercial plants yet.
- Tidal plants exist in France and South Korea.
- High costs and limited sites keep these niche.
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