UK: Exploration for Tapovan Geothermal Project Begins; Uttarakhand Takes a Major Step Towards Clean Energy
Chamoli/Dehradun: Taking a significant initiative in the field of geothermal energy, Uttarakhand has commenced scientific exploration for a geothermal project in Tapovan, Chamoli district. UJVN Limited has appointed the Indian partner firm of Verkis Consulting Engineers—a world-leading Icelandic geothermal consultancy—as the consultant for this project.
R. Meenakshi Sundaram, Principal Secretary (Energy and Alternate Energy), stated that the consultant will prepare a preliminary project report. Based on this report, drilling, geological testing, and other technical studies will be conducted. He noted that the state government had implemented a geothermal energy policy in 2025, and the Tapovan project was allocated to UJVN Limited for exploration in June 2026. Ajay Kumar Singh, Managing Director of UJVN Limited, stated that studies conducted so far have found the Tapovan area suitable for a 1-megawatt pilot project and a 10-megawatt commercial geothermal power project. UJVNL has also constituted a high-level technical committee to ensure the effective implementation of the project.
Congratulating the teams from UJVN Limited and the Energy Department on this initiative, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami remarked that Uttarakhand is steadily advancing in the clean energy sector through the optimal utilization of natural resources. The Chief Minister described the Tapovan geothermal project as a significant milestone for the state’s energy sector. He noted that it would boost clean energy production, develop new energy sources, and create opportunities for local employment and investment. “Our government is continuously working to make Uttarakhand a leading state in the green energy sector,” he said. He added that this project—driven by state government policies and a scientific approach—would play a crucial role in strengthening Uttarakhand’s energy security and establishing the state’s identity in the geothermal energy sector at the national level.
