Kirti Vardhan Singh stood beside a bubbling geothermal vent at the Hellisheioi Power Plant, steam rising into the crisp Icelandic air, as he took in the inner workings of one of the world’s most advanced clean energy sites. The Indian minister’s visit to this high-tech facility wasn’t just a tour — it was a signal of growing momentum between India and Iceland in the global shift toward sustainable energy.
In Reykjavik on October 9, Singh met with Iceland’s Minister for the Environment, Energy and Climate, Johann Pall Johannsson, to discuss deepening cooperation between their nations on renewable energy, climate action, and sustainable development. The conversation came shortly after Johannsson returned from India, where he attended the 2nd India-EFTA Prosperity Summit, building on a foundation of mutual interest in green innovation. Both countries see clean energy not just as an environmental necessity, but as a pillar of economic resilience and global responsibility.
A major focus of their talks was geothermal energy — a resource Iceland harnesses for over 25% of its electricity and nearly 90% of its heating. India, with vast untapped geothermal potential across regions like Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh, is eager to learn from Iceland’s decades of expertise. The visit to Hellisheioi, which generates 303 megawatts of geothermal power, offered a real-world blueprint for how volcanic heat can be transformed into reliable, low-emission energy.
Beyond energy, Singh also reaffirmed India’s commitment to Arctic research as a permanent Observer State in the Arctic Council. Speaking at the Arctic Circle Assembly, he emphasized a science-first approach, highlighting India’s growing research missions and collaborations aimed at understanding climate change in one of the planet’s most vulnerable regions.
In a quiet moment of symbolism, Singh planted an English Oak sapling at Lake Hvaleyrarvatn in Hafnarfjordur, part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ (One Tree in Mother’s Name) initiative. More than a gesture, it reflected a shared belief: that small, deliberate actions today can shape a greener tomorrow.
This partnership between a South Asian giant and a North Atlantic pioneer shows how nations with different landscapes can unite around common climate goals. As both countries push forward, their collaboration could light the way for others seeking practical, scalable solutions in the clean energy transition.