Environmental Impact of Geothermal Utilization in Tianjin, China

Abstract

Tianjin is assigned as the third particular developing area in China, after Shenzhen and Shanghai. Therefore the political and economical status of this area is very important. Geothermal resources are rich in Tianjin and are already widely utilized, providing considerable economic and environmental benefits. By the end of 2008, there were more than 318 geothermal production and injection wells in Tianjin, used for space heating, bathing, fish farming and other purposes. Although geothermal energy is generally perceived as environmentally friendly, development in the last 30 years has shown that it is not completely free of negative impacts on the environment. In Tianjin, the primary environmental problem is land subsidence. In this paper, the environmental impact of geothermal utilization is discussed. The connection between geothermal development and land subsidence is particularly emphasized.