Ladakh Wells Mark India's Entry into Geothermal Power Generation
India's first geothermal wells in Ladakh's Puga Valley were commissioned in July 2026, paving the way for a 1 MW demonstration project.
India has taken its first concrete step into geothermal power generation with the commissioning of its maiden geothermal wells in the Puga Valley of Ladakh. The two wells, each 1,000 metres deep, were completed in July 2026 by the ONGC Energy Centre at an altitude exceeding 14,000 feet. They will be used for reservoir evaluation and to support the development of India's first 1-megawatt demonstration geothermal power project.
Geothermal energy, derived from the Earth's internal heat, offers a steady and low-carbon power source that is independent of weather conditions, unlike solar or wind energy. The Puga Valley is considered one of India's most promising sites for this technology, known for its hot springs and underground heat reserves.
The development follows the notification of the National Policy on Geothermal Energy in September 2025, which laid out a roadmap for exploring the country's resources. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is the nodal agency for implementing this policy.
India's geothermal potential is significant. The Geological Survey of India has mapped 381 hot springs and identified 10 geothermal provinces, with a theoretical potential of nearly 10.6 GW. Of these, 42 sites have been recognised as promising for power generation and direct heat use.
Beyond the Ladakh milestone, the government has sanctioned several research and development projects. These include a pilot in Ankleshwar, Gujarat, to retrofit unproductive oil and gas wells for electricity generation, and a demonstration project in Gandhinagar that has already generated 50 to 90 kilowatts of power by integrating solar and geothermal energy. Studies are also underway in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, and Hyderabad is exploring geothermal cooling systems.
As India advances its clean energy transition, geothermal power offers a dependable and indigenous way to diversify the nation's renewable energy mix.