Abstract:

Geothermal energy is an important non-carbon-based renewable energy with several advantages such as local availability, deployment stability/reliability, and low carbon emissions. It represents an unique resource for ensuring energy security and promoting green, low-carbon transition. Since the beginning of the 21st century China's geothermal industry has experienced rapid development, making it a world leader in direct geothermal use, particularly in direct utilization of medium and deep geothermal resources for heating. However, as the majority of China's land regions are within tectonic plates and the country lacks medium-high temperature geothermal resources in the energy-intensive regions in the east, the development of geothermal power generation in China has been slow. In this study, the main distribution characteristics and development status of geothermal resources in China are discussed, and the current geothermal exploration, development, and utilization technologies are summarize, which involve exploration techniques based on geothermal genesis models, site selection evaluation techniques, thermal storage description technologies, sustainable development techniques, and key engineering technologies related to “heat extraction without water consumption.” In order to increase the geothermal energy market size amid energy transition, it is necessary to tap into deep geothermal resources with higher quality and broader applications in the future. Recommendations from this study include continuing strengthening basic theoretical research and technical innovation, inventorying China's deep geothermal resources as early as possible, addressing key technology challenges (e.g., high-temperature drilling/completion, complex-structure well, deep thermal storage retrofitting, underground heat exchange, EGS), and promoting synergistic development of “geothermal plus” multisource energy. Efforts should also be made to increase construction of demonstration projects and foster application market development. At the same time, it is essential to establish a sound policy and regulatory system, increase policy support, strengthen management and supervision, and create a favorable environment for the healthy, standardized, and sustainable development of the geothermal industry.

Key words: geothermal energy, geothermal industry, direct utilization, exploration and development techniques, development direction, carbon neutrality