en.Wedoany.com Reported - Notice of the General Department of the National Energy Administration on Organizing Pilot Work for High-Quality Development and Utilization of Geothermal Energy

Guo Neng Zong Tong Xin Neng [2026] No. 55

To the energy administrations of all provinces (autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government), the development and reform commissions of relevant provinces (autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, all dispatched agencies, and relevant central enterprises:

In order to thoroughly implement the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and all previous plenary sessions of the 20th Central Committee, earnestly implement the deployments of the Fourth Plenary Session, and implement the decisions and deployments of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on achieving peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality, and on the green and low-carbon transformation of energy, to remove policy bottlenecks in the development and utilization of geothermal energy, explore reform pathways, and promote the high-quality development of geothermal energy, we are now organizing pilot work for the high-quality development and utilization of geothermal energy, aiming to drive nationwide improvement in the quality and efficiency of geothermal energy development and utilization through demonstration projects. The relevant matters are notified as follows.

I. Pilot Objectives

During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, through the construction of pilots for high-quality development and utilization of geothermal energy, a relatively complete regional management and policy system for geothermal energy development and utilization will be formed. A number of large-scale geothermal energy development and utilization projects with advanced technology, standardized management, and significant benefits will be established. Typical technical routes and operational models for the development and utilization of shallow and medium-deep geothermal energy will be developed for replication and promotion.

II. Key Directions

(1) Medium-Deep Geothermal Energy

New Models for Large-Scale Utilization of Medium-Deep Geothermal Energy. Encourage large-scale development and utilization of medium-deep geothermal energy, vigorously increase its proportion in urban heating, explore business models coupling geothermal energy with traditional heating methods, and prioritize replacing natural gas heating. Encourage the development of long-distance heat transmission for medium-deep geothermal energy, forming viable business models to address the spatial mismatch between geothermal resource distribution and heating demand.

Promotion of Downhole Heat Exchange Technology. Innovate and promote downhole heat exchange technology that "extracts heat without extracting water," simplify pre-approval procedures, and accelerate project implementation. Conduct pilot projects for large-scale application in geologically suitable areas to verify the technical adaptability and stability under different geological conditions and heating demand scenarios, driving continuous improvement in the economic viability of downhole heat exchange technology.

(2) Shallow Geothermal Energy

Explore advanced technical routes and investment operation models. Promote shallow geothermal energy heating to replace traditional fossil fuel heating, such as natural gas heating, in rural areas. In urban areas, construct cluster utilization projects for shallow geothermal energy, optimize project construction management processes, coordinate the use of park green spaces outside building red lines, and enhance the heating/cooling efficiency of shallow geothermal energy.

(3) Diversified Applications

Strengthen scientific research and development and industrial cultivation related to geothermal power generation. Promote the application of geothermal energy in industrial production. Fully utilize abandoned wells in oil and gas fields, converting them into geothermal wells to achieve comprehensive resource utilization. In geothermal fields rich in strategic mineral resources such as lithium, helium, and boron, explore a cascade development model combining geothermal heating with mineral extraction. Carry out equipment renewal and transformation for existing old geothermal heating projects to improve operational efficiency and project intelligence levels.

III. Organization and Implementation

The National Energy Administration is responsible for organizing the nationwide pilot work for high-quality development and utilization of geothermal energy. Based on submissions from provincial energy authorities, it will coordinate and publish the list of pilots and guide the construction of pilot projects. Provincial energy authorities are responsible for organizing the preparation, evaluation, and summary of local pilot implementation plans. They shall submit the pilot application form and implementation plan to our Administration (New Energy Department) before July 31. The implementation period for pilot projects shall generally not exceed two years. During the implementation of the pilots, they shall actively coordinate and promote project construction, coordinate existing funding channels for renewable energy, clean heating, energy conservation and carbon reduction, and equipment renewal and transformation to give priority support to pilot projects, and submit a progress report on the pilots to our Administration (New Energy Department) every six months. All dispatched agencies shall track the progress of the pilots and promptly report important situations to our Administration (New Energy Department).

Contact: 010-81929528

Attachment:Application Form for Pilot Projects for High-Quality Development and Utilization of Geothermal Energy in XX Province (Autonomous Region, Municipality)

General Department of the National Energy Administration

May 28, 2026

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