The status and trend analysis of geothermal development and utilization in China

Abstract

Based on historical review and status analysis of geothermal development in China, this paper attempts to discuss reasons of stagnant development of high temperature geothermal resources for electricity generation and quick development of low-mediate temperature geothermal resources for direct utilization in the past ten years. It is suggested that China should put non-electrical utilization of low-mediate temperature geothermal resources in a more important position in the beginning of the 21th century, particularly choose big- and medium-sized cities with good resource potential to develop space heating and tourism. On the other hand, China should also take geothermal reinjection and the use of heat pumps as its important tasks so as to achieve successful geothermal developments featured by environment friendly, high efficiency, energy saving and resource protection, and to ensure the sustainable development of geothermal resources.