Archive · 30 Jan 2026
Seros drills India's first geothermal well in Ladakh
Seros, a big energy company in India, is drilling a special well in a very cold and high place called Puga Valley in Ladakh.
This is India's first well to find out if we can use heat from under the ground to make electricity.
They have already drilled 400 metres and want to go deeper this year.
The project is very hard because it's so cold and high up, but if it works, it could help India make clean energy that works all the time, not just when the sun is shining or the wind is blowing.
This could be a big step for India's clean energy future.
Seros has drilled India’s first geothermal well in Puga Valley, Ladakh, aiming for a depth of 900-1,000 metres in the current season.
The project, in collaboration with ONGC Energy Centre, aims to demonstrate the feasibility of geothermal power in one of the world’s most challenging environments.
Geothermal energy is seen as a reliable baseload option to complement intermittent renewable sources like solar and wind.
The first reservoir identified has an estimated generation potential of 10 MW, with scalability dependent on policy support.
The project faces significant challenges, including high altitude, subzero temperatures, and extreme conditions, but has made progress using binary cycle geothermal technology.
- Who
- Seros, India’s largest integrated energy services company, in collaboration with ONGC Energy Centre
- What
- Drilling of India’s first geothermal resource-mapping well in Puga Valley, Ladakh
- When
- Drilling began in mid-2024, with the current season aiming to reach 900-1,000 metres
- Where
- Puga Valley, Ladakh, an extremely high-altitude cold desert
- Why
- To demonstrate the potential of geothermal energy for round-the-clock power and diversify India’s clean energy mix
- Company
- Seros
- Location
- Puga Valley, Ladakh
- Depth Achieved
- 400 metres (2023), aiming for 900-1,000 metres (2024)
- Technology
- Binary cycle geothermal technology
- Potential Generation
- 10 MW from first reservoir
- Project Timeline
- 3-4 years from regulatory approvals to commissioning
- Challenges
- High altitude, subzero temperatures, limited working months, extreme conditions
- Policy Support Needed
- Exploration risk coverage, government initiatives