India's First Geothermal Power Project in Ladakh
Ladakh is pioneering clean energy initiatives with the approval of India's first geothermal power project at Puga Valley. This project, led by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), is significant for the region's sustainable energy future.
Project Approval and Development
- The project is approved by Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena.
- A five-year extension of the MoU with ONGC has been approved, emphasizing the strategic importance of this clean energy initiative.
- Initial MoU was signed on February 6, 2021, and recently extended due to weather-related delays.
Technical Details and Phases
- Located at over 14,000 feet altitude in eastern Ladakh.
- The revised MoU includes establishing a 1-MWe pilot geothermal power plant and preparing a detailed project report (DPR) for scalability.
- Geothermal energy is a renewable source derived from Earth's heat.
- Plans to deepen existing wells to 1,000 meters during 2026 and drill another well in the next phase.
- Second phase includes surveys and investigations in the Chumathang area, within the Himalayan geothermal belt.
Geothermal Energy Potential
- Geothermal wells in Puga Valley have tapped high-pressure steam and temperatures >200°C at 400 meters depth.
- Expected to reduce conventional fuel dependence and carbon emissions, bolstering Ladakh as a renewable energy hub.
- Geothermal initiative complements Ladakh's solar energy program.
- Potential to generate 1 MW of electricity at a turbine inlet temperature of around 200°C.
Significance and Impact
- First large-scale commercial geothermal plant in India.
- Aims to make Ladakh carbon-neutral and environmentally sustainable.
- Deepest geothermal well drilled in Ladakh at 405 meters, with subsurface temperatures >240°C suitable for power generation.
This project is expected to be a landmark in India's clean energy journey, enhancing energy security and sustainability for the region.
