Assessment of Geothermal Resources in China

Abstract

The geological features of the geothermal resources in China have been analyzed firstly. The geothermal resources were then characterized of different categories such as shallow, sedimentary basins, apophysis mountains, and hot dry rocks (potentially for enhanced geothermal systems, EGS). The potential geothermal resources of different types in China have been assessed on the basis of the geological analysis by using different methods and models. The results of the geothermal resources in China are summarized. The key cities of China have shallow geothermal resources of about 2.78×1020J,of which approximately 2.89×1012kWh might be utilized annually. The geothermal resource in the main sedimentary basins of China is about 2.5×1022J, and the quantity of allowable exploitation is close to 7.5×1021J. The total heat discharged from the hot spring areas is roughly 1.32×1017J, and the recoverable resource is about 6.6×1017J/year. The geothermal resources in hot dry rocks (or EGS) areas at a depth of 3.0-10.0km in mainland China is around 2.52×1025J. The geothermal energy is equivalent to5300 times of China's current annual total energy consumption (2010: 95.2×1018J) if only 2% of the EGS resources can be recovered.