Iceland Courts India for Geothermal and 'Carbon-to-Stone' CCUS Technologies

Gist Iceland has offered its expertise in geothermal energy and Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage CCUS technologies to support India's clean energy transition. The collaboration aims to help India exploit its untapped geothermal potential and deploy Iceland's proprietary 'carbon-to-stone' technology to decarbonise heavy industries. For civil services aspirants, this highlights emerging technological avenues in India's climate strategy beyond conventional solar and wind power, specifically focusing on solutions for hard-to-abate sectors. Background Geothermal Energy: This is a renewable energy source that utilises heat generated and stored within the Earth to generate electricity or provide direct heating. CCUS: Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage involves capturing carbon dioxide emissions at their source like industrial facilities , preventing them from entering the atmosphere, and either reusing them or storing them permanently underground. The Current Gap: While India has rapidly expanded its solar and wind capacity, its geothermal resources remain largely unexploited due to high initial exploration costs, technological constraints, and an underdeveloped regulatory framework. Key Pointers Bridging Regulatory Bottlenecks: Iceland has offered legal and technical expertise to help India design a robust regulatory framework,…