Geothermal Energy

In July 2026, the ONGC Energy Centre commissioned India's first two geothermal wells. This was a major step because the wells could help India move from studying geothermal resources to generating geothermal electricity. The project supports the country's broader clean energy transition.

The wells are located in Puga Valley, Ladakh. Each well is 1,000 metres deep and will support reservoir evaluation. Researchers can use them to examine the underground hot-water and heat resources, helping assess whether the site can support sustained power production.

Puga Valley stands at more than 14,000 feet above sea level. It is known for hot springs and underground heat reserves, making it one of India's most promising geothermal locations. The wells also pave the way for India's first 1-megawatt demonstration geothermal power project, marking India's entry into geothermal power generation.

Geothermal energy is thermal energy drawn from deep inside the Earth. It comes from the planet's intense internal heat and can be used to generate electricity or provide heat directly. It is renewable, low-carbon, steady, and weather-independent, so it can strengthen India's clean energy supply.

In suitable geological areas, faults and fractures bring underground heat closer to the surface. This creates reservoirs of hot water and steam held in permeable rock. Deep wells can bring these resources upward, allowing steam to drive a turbine connected to a generator. The used water is then condensed and reinjected underground.

Geothermal energy also works without producing electricity. Its heat can support district heating, agriculture, aquaculture, and space heating and cooling. Because it is available continuously, geothermal power can diversify India's renewable energy mix and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, according to the article.

India has a substantial but largely untapped geothermal resource base. The Geological Survey of India has mapped 381 hot springs across the country. It estimates India's theoretical geothermal prospect at nearly 10.6 gigawatts, showing the possible scale of this underground energy resource.

The resource is spread across varied geological settings. The Geological Survey of India has identified 10 geothermal provinces, including the Himalayan Geothermal Province, Naga-Lusai, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, SONATA, the West Coast, Cambay Graben, Aravalli, Mahanadi, Godavari, and South Indian regions. These areas reflect India's diverse geology and tectonic activity.

Of the mapped resource locations, 42 sites have been recognised as promising for power generation and direct heat use. These figures describe potential, not installed capacity. Further exploration, reservoir evaluation, and demonstration projects will be needed to determine how much energy can be developed in practice.

Geothermal power generation taps hot water and steam trapped beneath Earth's surface. Deep wells bring these resources upward, replacing fuel combustion with naturally occurring underground heat. This makes geothermal generation similar to conventional thermal power, but without burning fuel to create the heat.

At the surface, steam drives a turbine connected to a generator. The turbine's movement produces electricity. Afterward, the used water is condensed and reinjected into the underground reservoir. Reinjection supports resource replenishment and helps enable continued energy production from the geothermal system.

Electricity is only one use. Geothermal heat can be applied directly in district heating, agriculture, aquaculture, and space heating and cooling. These applications use the heat without first converting it into electricity. Together, power generation and direct heat use can make geothermal resources more efficient and useful across different local needs.

Puga Valley is considered suitable because it has clear signs of geothermal activity. The valley is known for hot springs and underground heat reserves. It is also identified as one of India's most promising geothermal sites, offering a strong setting for testing how underground heat can be developed.

In July 2026, the ONGC Energy Centre commissioned two wells there. Each well reaches 1,000 metres below the surface. These wells will support reservoir evaluation by helping assess the underground geothermal resource. The information gathered can guide decisions about the site's ability to produce power.

The wells pave the way for India's first 1-megawatt demonstration geothermal power project. Puga Valley's high-altitude location, above 14,000 feet in Ladakh, adds to its distinctive setting, while its hot springs and heat reserves provide the central geological basis. The project marks India's entry into geothermal power generation.

Geothermal energy could add a steady source to India's electricity system. Unlike solar and wind energy, it is available round the clock and is not dependent on weather. Its low-carbon character makes it relevant to India's clean energy transition and efforts to build a more sustainable energy future.

The resource is indigenous, meaning it can be developed from India's own geological conditions. Deep wells can bring underground hot water and steam to the surface, where steam drives turbines and generates electricity. Used water can then be condensed and reinjected, supporting continued production.

The article presents geothermal power as a way to diversify India's renewable energy mix and cut reliance on fossil fuels. Its wider development could also expand direct heat use in district heating, agriculture, aquaculture, and space heating and cooling. The National Policy on Geothermal Energy and the Puga demonstration project provide an early framework for this development.

Earth's internal heat has two stated sources. Radioactive decay of elements such as uranium, thorium, and potassium produces heat. Residual heat left from the planet's formation also remains inside Earth. Temperatures rise with depth, reaching about 3,700 Celsius degrees at the mantle-core boundary and 5,000 to 6,000 Celsius degrees in the core.

This heat drives enormous convection currents in the mantle. Hot material moves upward from the core boundary toward cooler parts of the mantle and crust. The material contains water trapped as hydroxides. These movements also drive tectonic activity, including earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain building.

In geologically active regions, faults and fractures allow hot material to travel closer to the surface. The process creates reservoirs of hot water and steam trapped in permeable rock. Deep wells can then access this thermal energy, making it available for electricity generation or direct heating.