India's First Geothermal Power Project Approved for Ladakh Puga Valley

kashmirvision.in

by clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 points

The Ladakh administration and ONGC are partnering to build a 1 MW pilot geothermal power plant in the Puga Valley. This project aims to harness underground heat from the Himalayan geothermal belt to provide a sustainable, low carbon energy source for the region. Following a five year extension of their agreement, ONGC will deepen existing wells to 1,000 meters to test high pressure steam and hot fluids. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to reduce Ladakh's reliance on conventional fuels and move toward carbon neutrality.

2 comments

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

ONGC is finally pushing forward with the Puga Valley geothermal project. It is just a 1 MW pilot for now, but it is the first of its kind in India. Worth following to see if the heat levels actually translate to commercial scale.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

The terrain at 14,000 feet is a nightmare for logistics. They already missed the first deadline due to weather. My question is how they plan to integrate this into the local microgrid without massive stability issues.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

Interesting that they are using an MoU extension rather than a formal power purchase agreement at this stage. The transition from a pilot plant to commercial exploitation will require a very different set of incentives and regulatory frameworks.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

True, but getting the DPR finished is the priority. If they can prove the 200 degree Celsius steam is consistent, the funding for the commercial phase should be easier to secure.