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India has taken a major step towards expanding geothermal energy as part of its renewable energy mix and Net Zero 2070 ambitions.
The commissioning of the country’s first two geothermal wells in Ladakh marks the start of this effort, according to a government factsheet issued on Friday.
Geothermal energy harnesses intense heat beneath the Earth’s surface. Unlike solar and wind power, it can provide low-carbon renewable energy around the clock.
The government notified the National Policy on Geothermal Energy in September 2025.
The policy provides a roadmap for exploring and developing India’s geothermal resources.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, however, remains the nodal Ministry for implementation.
India achieved a major milestone in July 2026.
The ONGC Energy Centre commissioned two geothermal wells in Puga Valley, Ladakh.
Located above 14,000 feet, the valley ranks among India’s promising geothermal locations because of its hot springs and underground heat reserves.
The two wells, each 1,000 metres deep, will help evaluate the geothermal reservoir. They will support India’s first 1-megawatt demonstration geothermal power project.
Geothermal plants draw hot water and steam from underground reservoirs.
Deep wells bring these resources to the surface, where steam drives turbines connected to generators.
The process resembles conventional thermal power generation but replaces fuel combustion with natural underground heat.
After generation, operators condense and reinject the used water into the reservoir. This helps replenish resources and sustain production.
Geothermal heat can support district heating, agriculture, aquaculture, and space heating and cooling.
The Geological Survey of India has mapped 381 hot springs and identified 10 geothermal provinces.
India has a theoretical geothermal potential of nearly 10.6 GW, with 42 sites considered promising for power generation and direct heat applications.
The provinces, however, span the Himalayan, Naga-Lusai, Andaman and Nicobar, SONATA, West Coast, Cambay Graben, Aravalli, Mahanadi, Godavari, and South Indian Cratonic regions.
Growing pilot projects and international partnerships could expand geothermal applications across power, heating, geo-tourism, and agriculture.
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