Geothermal Wells: India’s First in Puga Valley

India’s First Geothermal Wells at Puga Valley will help in unlocking India’s Geothermal Energy Potential. Read here to learn more.

India has commissioned its first and deepest geothermal wells at Puga Valley in Ladakh, marking a historic milestone in the country’s renewable energy transition.

The project is expected to support India’s first demonstration-scale geothermal power plant (1 MW) and contribute significantly to Ladakh’s vision of becoming a carbon-neutral region.

What is the Puga Valley Geothermal Wells Project?

• The Puga Valley Geothermal Project is India’s first attempt to harness geothermal energy for commercial electricity generation.
• It involves drilling deep geothermal wells to extract heat naturally stored beneath the Earth’s surface and convert it into clean, reliable electricity.
• Unlike solar and wind energy, geothermal energy provides continuous 24×7 baseload power, making it an important component of a diversified renewable energy mix.

Key Facts about the Project:

• The geothermal wells have been drilled at Puga Valley in the Changthang region of southeastern Ladakh, approximately 22 km from the Salt Lake Valley, at an altitude exceeding 14,000 feet above sea level.
• Puga Valley is internationally recognised for its rich geothermal resources, natural hot sulphur springs, mud pools, and geothermal vents.

India’s First and Deepest Geothermal Wells

The project has achieved a historic engineering milestone by drilling two geothermal wells to a depth of 1,000 metres, making them the deepest geothermal wells drilled in India.

These wells will provide critical data on:

• Reservoir characteristics
• Temperature gradients
• Pressure conditions
• Commercial feasibility

Power Generation

• The wells will support a proposed 1 MW geothermal power plant, which will become India’s first demonstration-scale geothermal electricity project.
• Although modest in capacity, the project will serve as a proof-of-concept for future large-scale geothermal development across India.

Temperature Observations

• Exploratory drilling has already recorded temperatures of 135°C at a depth of 400 metres
• Further drilling and reservoir testing are underway to determine whether temperatures increase sufficiently to support commercial electricity generation.

Implementing Agencies

The project is being implemented by:

• ONGC Energy Centre
• Ladakh Administration
• Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh

About Puga Valley

Puga Valley lies in the Changthang Plateau of southeastern Ladakh.

It is famous for:

• Natural hot sulphur springs
• Geothermal vents
• Fumaroles
• Mud pools
• Borax deposits

The region lies within the Himalayan geothermal province, one of India’s most promising geothermal belts.

Its geothermal manifestations have attracted scientific attention for several decades.

What is Geothermal Energy?

Geothermal energy is the heat naturally stored inside the Earth’s interior that can be utilised for:

• Electricity generation
• Space heating
• Industrial heating
• Greenhouses
• Heating and cooling buildings

The Earth’s internal heat is continuously replenished through:

• Residual heat from planetary formation
• Radioactive decay of naturally occurring elements

Therefore, geothermal energy is considered a renewable and sustainable energy source.

Sources of Geothermal Energy

1. Deep Hydrothermal Reservoirs

• These consist of underground reservoirs containing hot water or steam that are accessed through deep drilling.
• The extracted steam drives turbines to generate electricity.

2. Near-Surface Hydrothermal Systems

Natural hot springs and shallow geothermal reservoirs occur mainly in tectonically active regions.

These can be used directly for:

• Bathing
• District heating
• Agriculture
• Tourism

3. Shallow Ground Resources

At shallow depths, the Earth’s temperature remains relatively constant throughout the year.

Geothermal heat pumps utilise this property for:

• Heating buildings in winter
• Cooling buildings in summer

How Does Geothermal Power Generation Work?

The electricity generation process involves:

1. Deep wells are drilled into geothermal reservoirs.
2. Hot water or steam rises naturally to the surface.
3. Steam rotates turbines connected to generators.
4. Electricity is produced.
5. Condensed water is reinjected underground to maintain reservoir pressure and ensure sustainability.

This closed-loop process minimises environmental impacts and allows long-term resource utilisation.

Advantages of Geothermal Energy

• Reliable Baseload Power: Unlike solar and wind power, geothermal energy is available 24 hours a day, regardless of weather conditions.
• Low Carbon Emissions: Geothermal plants emit only a small fraction of greenhouse gases compared to fossil fuel-based power plants.
• Small Land Footprint: Geothermal power stations require relatively little land compared to solar or wind farms producing similar electricity.
• Energy Security: Domestic geothermal resources reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and improve long-term energy security.
• Long Operational Life: Properly managed geothermal reservoirs can remain productive for several decades.
• High Capacity Factor: Geothermal plants typically achieve capacity factors exceeding 80-90%, significantly higher than intermittent renewable sources.

Institutional Framework

India’s geothermal development is guided by the National Policy on Geothermal Energy, 2025.

Objectives

• Promote exploration of geothermal resources.
• Encourage commercial geothermal projects.
• Facilitate public-private partnerships.
• Support clean-energy transition.
• Diversify India’s renewable energy portfolio.

Nodal Ministry

• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) serves as the nodal ministry for implementing the policy.

India’s Geothermal Potential

According to the Geological Survey of India (GSI):

• Around 381 hot springs have been identified.
• Surface temperatures range between 35°C and 89°C.
• The estimated geothermal power potential is approximately 10,600 MW.

Major Geothermal Provinces in India

India has 10 officially recognised geothermal provinces:

• Himalayan Province
• Naga-Lusai Province
• Andaman & Nicobar Islands
• Son-Narmada-Tapi Province
• West Coast Province
• Cambay Graben
• Aravalli Province
• Mahanadi Province
• Godavari Province
• South Indian Cratonic Province

Major Geothermal Sites

Important geothermal locations include:

• Puga Valley (Ladakh)
• Chumathang (Ladakh)
• Manikaran (Himachal Pradesh)
• Tapoban (Uttarakhand)
• Bakreshwar (West Bengal)
• Tuwa (Gujarat)
• Tattapani (Chhattisgarh)
• Deulajhari (Odisha)

Global Scenario

Global geothermal power capacity reached approximately 15.4 GW by the end of 2024.

Leading geothermal power-producing countries include:

• United States
• Indonesia
• Philippines
• Turkey
• Kenya
• New Zealand
• Iceland

These countries have successfully integrated geothermal energy into their national electricity grids.

Significance of the Puga Valley Project

Diversifying India’s Renewable Energy Mix

The project introduces geothermal energy as a new pillar alongside:

• Solar energy
• Wind energy
• Hydropower
• Bioenergy

Supporting Carbon Neutrality

The project contributes to:

• India’s Net Zero target by 2070.
• Ladakh’s ambition of becoming a carbon-neutral Union Territory.

Round-the-Clock Renewable Power

• Unlike intermittent renewables, geothermal energy provides an uninterrupted electricity supply, enhancing grid stability.

Reducing Diesel Dependence

Remote Himalayan regions currently depend heavily on diesel generators.

Local geothermal power can substantially reduce:

• Diesel consumption
• Fuel transportation costs
• Carbon emissions

Scientific and Technological Advancement

The project strengthens India’s capabilities in:

• Deep drilling
• Geothermal reservoir engineering
• Renewable energy technologies
• High-altitude infrastructure

Boosting Local Development

Reliable clean electricity can support:

• Tourism
• Rural electrification
• Small industries
• Healthcare facilities
• Cold storage infrastructure

Challenges in Geothermal Development

Despite its potential, geothermal development faces several constraints:

• High exploration and drilling costs.
• Geological uncertainty regarding reservoir size and sustainability.
• Limited domestic expertise in geothermal technologies.
• Remote and inaccessible locations of geothermal resources.
• Environmental concerns such as induced seismicity and groundwater management.
• Lack of commercial-scale geothermal projects and private investment.

Way Forward

To unlock India’s geothermal potential, the following measures are essential:

• Accelerate detailed geological surveys and resource mapping using advanced geophysical techniques.
• Promote public-private partnerships and international collaborations for technology transfer.
• Provide financial incentives, viability gap funding, and risk-sharing mechanisms to attract private investment.
• Develop indigenous drilling technologies and geothermal equipment under the Make in India initiative.
• Integrate geothermal energy into India’s broader renewable energy and energy security strategy.
• Expand pilot projects at promising locations such as Chumathang, Manikaran, and Tattapani.
• Build skilled human resources through dedicated research and training programmes in geothermal engineering.

Conclusion

The commissioning of India’s first geothermal wells at Puga Valley represents a landmark achievement in the country’s renewable energy journey. By demonstrating the feasibility of harnessing the Earth’s internal heat for electricity generation, the project opens a new frontier in India’s clean-energy transition.

With an estimated 10,600 MW geothermal potential, supportive policies under the National Policy on Geothermal Energy, 2025, and continued technological innovation, geothermal energy can become an important source of reliable, low-carbon baseload power, strengthen India’s energy security while advancing its climate commitments and sustainable development goals.