The International Geothermal Forum was held in Taiyuan. Experts called for strengthening international cooperation to promote the development of the geothermal industry.

China News Service, Taiyuan, September 5 (Reporter Fan Lifang) "The urgency of decarbonizing the global energy system cannot be ignored. Geothermal energy has unique advantages and should play an important role in achieving carbon reduction goals, and it is crucial to develop the geothermal industry through international collaboration and knowledge sharing."

The 2026 Taiyuan Energy Low Carbon Development Forum International Geothermal Forum and the Seventh International Geothermal Symposium were held in Taiyuan, Shanxi on the 5th. Graeme Beardsmore, a member of the International Geothermal Standards Committee, shared the above views.

On September 5, the International Geothermal Forum and the Seventh International Symposium on Geosciences were held in Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province. Photo by Zhang Haoyu

Geothermal resources have become an important direction in global energy transformation due to their advantages of cleanliness, efficiency, stability and wide distribution. Data shows that during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, China's geothermal heating and cooling area increased by an average annual rate of 6.5%, reaching 1.65 billion square meters in 2025. The scale of the geothermal industry has long ranked first in the world.

Currently, China is promoting geothermal heating projects on a large scale. Graeme Beardsmore gave the example of a joint venture between China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation and Icelandic company Arctic Green. Its geothermal heating practices have effectively promoted the decarbonization of urban energy systems and provided an example for international cooperation.

José Luis Samaniego, deputy minister of the Mexican Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, said that the country has introduced a new bill to better integrate geothermal into the energy structure and transform it into a green and sustainable transition. "China is a benchmark in this regard and very much hopes to strengthen cooperation to make Mexico's economic structure more resilient."

As an important energy base, Shanxi has significant advantages in geothermal resources. Zhang Junfeng, vice president of China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), said that a team of academicians and experts from the school discovered a high-temperature geothermal well exceeding 150 degrees Celsius in Datong, Shanxi. The well is the geothermal well with the highest temperature and largest artesian flow in central and eastern China.

The forum was co-sponsored by 9 units (institutions) including the Geological Survey of Iceland and the International Geothermal Standards Committee, and was attended by more than 120 Chinese and foreign guests from 28 countries and regions. (over)