HGEO attended India Energy Week—a premier global forum convening U.S. and international energy companies, policymakers, and ministers to strengthen trade partnerships and explore solutions to complex energy challenges.
Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office
February 12, 2026
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The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO) attended India Energy Week—a premier global forum convening U.S. and international energy companies, policymakers, and ministers to strengthen trade partnerships and explore solutions to complex energy challenges.
Throughout the week-long event, Assistant Secretary Kyle Haustveit, Senior Advisor Toby Deen, and Director for Mining and Processing Adam Wong, participated in keynote sessions and roundtable discussions focused on energy security and technology innovation. Across these engagements, DOE emphasized the value of leveraging U.S. hydrocarbons—including coal, oil, and natural gas—and geothermal resources to support a reliable and secure energy supply.
Supporting Global Energy Security through U.S. Coal Exports
U.S. coal exports have a critical role in meeting global energy needs. Coal remains one of the top three sources of energy in America and worldwide, supporting grid reliability, industrial growth, and long-term energy security. DOE’s coal research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) portfolio advances technologies that stabilize, optimize, and grow the American coal industry—helping ensure U.S. coal remains competitive and responsive to global market demand.
“The world needs more energy, not less—and countries like India are central to meeting that growing demand,” said Assistant Secretary Haustveit. “Expanding access to affordable, reliable, and secure energy is fundamental to economic growth and human prosperity. U.S. coal plays a critical role in meeting that need, offering consistent quality, dependable supply, and a stable trading relationship that helps countries diversify their energy sources.”
As one of the world’s fastest-growing energy markets, India represents a significant opportunity for expanded U.S. coal exports. In 2024, India imported approximately 247.8 million metric tons of coal (thermal: 69%, metallurgical: 23%, PCI: 7.2%, and anthracite: 0.8%). Demand driven by industrialization, manufacturing, and electricity needs, particularly steel production, made India the largest recipient of U.S. coal—accounting for 23.4% of U.S. coal exports for that year (approximately 22.9 million metric tons).
Advancing Geothermal Innovation for a Global Market
Geothermal energy represents a significant, largely untapped opportunity to deliver firm, reliable power at scale. According to the International Energy Agency, geothermal technologies could meet up to 15% of global electricity demand growth by 2050—more than 800 gigawatts of geothermal power capacity worldwide—producing nearly 6,000 terawatt-hours per year, equivalent to the current electricity demand of the United States and India combined.
HGEO’s RD&D efforts focus on unlocking this potential by adapting proven technologies from the oil and natural gas sector, including advanced drilling, subsurface characterization, and reservoir engineering. By reducing drilling costs, improving resource discovery, and advancing enhanced geothermal systems, HGEO is expanding geothermal deployment beyond traditional resource areas and into regions with growing demand.
“By leveraging decades of U.S. expertise in subsurface engineering and drilling, we can unlock new geothermal resources and help partners around the world, including India, strengthen their energy security,” said Senior Advisor Toby Deen.
Delivering Real-World Impact
Under the Trump Administration, the United States has prioritized an energy policy focused on energy addition—increasing domestic production while expanding access to reliable, affordable energy worldwide. As the world’s largest producer and exporter of oil and natural gas, the United States has a critical role in global energy markets, with liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports supporting partners, including India, as they diversify energy sources.
“Markets like India demonstrate why our RD&D must focus on solutions that perform at scale,” said Assistant Secretary Haustveit. “By aligning technology innovation with global demand, the United States stands ready to deliver hydrocarbon and geothermal energy resources reliably, transparently, and at scale.”
Building on this leadership, the United States continues to deepen its longstanding partnership with India. On February 2, 2026, President Donald Trump announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to expanding purchases—totaling more than $500 billion—of U.S. goods, including energy and coal, underscoring the strength of the U.S.-India relationship.
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