Subject: GS 3: Environment
Context: Recently, the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh has commissioned India’s first and deepest geothermal wells at Puga Valley, Ladakh.
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Key Highlights about the Geothermal Wells
- Two wells, each 1,000 metres deep, drilled at an altitude of over 14,000 feet.
- A maximum temperature of 135°C was recorded at a depth of 400 metres, with further testing underway to find even higher temperatures.
- Pilot Geothermal Power Project: The wells will support India’s first 1 MW demonstration-scale geothermal power project, being implemented by the ONGC Energy Centre.
- Significance: The project is expected to serve as a blueprint for geothermal energy development in India, contribute to Ladakh’s carbon-neutral goal, diversify India’s renewable energy mix, and support Net Zero commitments.
About Geothermal Energy: (UPSC Prelims 2013)
- Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source derived from the natural heat stored beneath the Earth’s surface, used for electricity generation and direct heating.
- Source of Heat: The heat originates primarily from radioactive decay within the Earth and residual heat retained since the planet’s formation.
- Working Principle: Wells are drilled into geothermal reservoirs to extract hot water or steam, which drives turbines for electricity generation or is used directly for heating.
Types of Geothermal Resources
- Hydrothermal Systems: Naturally occurring hot water and steam reservoirs.
- Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS): Artificially engineered reservoirs in hot dry rocks.
- Geopressured Resources: Hot, pressurised brine reservoirs.
- Hot Dry Rock Resources: Deep underground rocks with high temperatures but limited natural water.
Puga Geothermal Field
- Location: Situated in the Changthang region of Leh district, Ladakh, within the Puga Valley.
- Geological Setting: Lies within the Himalayan Geothermal Belt, formed due to the collision of the Indian Plate and Eurasian Plate.
- Features: Characterised by hot springs, fumaroles, mud pools, sulphur deposits and steam vents, indicating active geothermal systems.
- Potential: Considered India’s most promising geothermal resource for electricity generation and direct heat applications.
Significance of Geothermal Energy
- Clean & Renewable Source: Provides continuous low-carbon energy with negligible greenhouse gas emissions.
- Base-load Power: Delivers 24×7 uninterrupted power, unlike solar and wind energy.
- Energy Security: Reduces dependence on imported fossil fuels and diversifies India’s renewable energy portfolio.
- Regional Development: Suitable for remote Himalayan regions, reducing reliance on diesel-based electricity generation.
- Multiple Applications: Supports space heating, greenhouses, aquaculture, industrial heating and tourism, besides electricity generation.
Global Status of Geothermal Energy:
- Global Installed Capacity: Geothermal power capacity exceeds 17 GW (2025), generating around 100 TWh of electricity annually.
- Share in Global Electricity: Geothermal energy contributes less than 1% of global electricity generation (around 0.3–0.4%), but provides reliable 24×7 baseload power.
- Leading Countries (Power Generation):
- United States (largest producer)
- Indonesia
- Philippines
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Geothermal Energy Potential in India
- Estimated Potential: The Geological Survey of India (GSI), in its Geothermal Atlas of India, 2022, estimates India’s geothermal power potential at approximately 10,600 MW across 381 thermally anomalous areas.
- Pilot Projects: India’s first operational 20 kW geothermal power plant was commissioned by Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) at Manuguru, Telangana, using Binary Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) technology.
Major Geothermal Provinces:
- Puga–Chumathang (Ladakh)
- Cambay Basin (Gujarat)
- Son–Narmada–Tapti (SONATA) Belt
- West Coast Province (Maharashtra–Goa)
- Godavari Basin
- Mahanadi Basin
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands
- Himalayan Geothermal Province (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir)
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Challenges that need to be Addressed
- High Initial Investment: Exploration and deep drilling require significant capital with high geological uncertainty.
- Technological Constraints: Limited indigenous expertise in advanced geothermal drilling and reservoir management.
- Resource Exploration: Inadequate geological surveys and resource assessment.
- Remote Locations: Most resources are located in high-altitude and infrastructure-deficient regions.
- Policy Support: Absence of a dedicated National Geothermal Energy Policy has slowed commercial deployment.
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Way Forward
- National Policy: Formulate a dedicated National Geothermal Energy Policy with targeted financial incentives.
- Technology & Investment: Promote Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and international technology collaboration.
- Scale-up Projects: Expand pilot and demonstration projects before commercial deployment.
- Renewable Integration: Integrate geothermal energy into India’s renewable energy and Net Zero strategy.
- Capacity Building: Strengthen geological exploration, resource mapping and indigenous technological capabilities.
20 Jul 2026
