China Accelerates Geothermal Heating to 120 Million Square Meters Across 70 Cities
Updated
Updated · China Daily · Jun 8
China Accelerates Geothermal Heating to 120 Million Square Meters Across 70 Cities
1 articles · Updated · China Daily · Jun 8
Summary
More than 120 million square meters of geothermal heating capacity now serve residents in over 70 Chinese cities, marking a rapid scale-up as Beijing prioritizes energy self-sufficiency in its 2026-30 plan.
Heating and cooling account for roughly half of global energy use, yet more than 80% of that demand still relies on fossil fuels, leaving many systems exposed to import dependence and fuel-price swings.
Sinopec Green Energy — a venture between Sinopec Star and Arctic Green Energy — pairs Icelandic geothermal expertise with China's deployment scale to expand district heating, especially in northern areas long reliant on coal.
That rollout is cutting emissions and improving urban air quality while providing steady, weather-independent thermal energy that complements wind and solar in a more resilient domestic energy system.