Tianjin leads nation in geothermal energy use

Tianjin has emerged as a national model in geothermal utilization, with its geothermal heating area reaching 47.6 million square meters, accounting for 8 percent of the city's centralized heating area, as this year marks the 55th anniversary of China's first geothermal exploration campaign initiated by Li Siguang.

The statistics were released during the Geothermal Industry Forum of the 27th China Mining Conference held in Tianjin on Friday, which gathered more than 220 guests from home and abroad to discuss the full industrial chain development of geothermal energy.

Tianjin's leading position in geothermal energy stems from its breakthrough in addressing energy shortages more than half a century ago. In the 1970s, the global oil crisis led to an energy shortage. In October 1970, Li, then minister of geology, visited Tianjin and proposed that "the Earth is a huge heat reservoir with inexhaustible heat."

He advocated for launching a geothermal exploration campaign in Tianjin. The campaign referred to a collaborative effort across departments to conduct gravity surveys, geothermal measurements, and other work.

Today, Tianjin has solved the worldwide problem of reinjection into sandstone porous geothermal reservoirs. Previously, reinjecting used geothermal water posed a challenge to the sustainable use of resources. The city's "paired-well reinjection model" links production wells with reinjection wells, allowing treated wastewater to be injected back underground. By the end of last year, Tianjin had built 315 paired-well reinjection systems.

Geothermal resources have become deeply integrated into local people's lives. Geothermal water, with a temperature of 60 to 90 C, now meets 20 percent of Tianjin's centralized heating demand.

For example, the Nankai Jingu Garden Heating Station adopts a "geothermal and natural gas" model, saving 2.48 million cubic meters of natural gas and reducing emissions by 11,200 tons annually while providing heating for an area of 3.2 million square meters.

Recently, the China-Iceland joint statement on geothermal cooperation highlighted Tianjin's role as a benchmark.

At the forum, China-Iceland cooperation was a key focus. The two countries plan to launch joint pilot projects in Arctic low-temperature geothermal exploration and geothermal power generation equipment research and development. The Icelandic Geothermal Research Institute will also send experts to Tianjin for technical research within this year.

Ruan Chuanxia, chief engineer of the Tianjin Geothermal Institute under the Tianjin Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, said at the forum, "Inheriting Li Siguang's spirit of exploration, Tianjin's practice in sustainable geothermal development not only benefits local people's livelihood but also provides technical support to more than 20 provinces across China."

Xu Lingxi contributed to this story.