Some suggestions on promoting the development and utilization of geothermal energy



I. Guiding ideology and objectives

(1) Guiding ideology

 Adhere to the principles of unified planning, local conditions, orderly development, clean and efficient, water saving and environmental protection, and encourage innovation, prudently promote geothermal energy resource exploration and project construction, standardize and simplify management processes, improve information statistics and monitoring systems, and ensure high-quality development of geothermal energy development and utilization.

(2) Objectives

By 2025, all localities will have established a complete and standardized management process for the development and utilization of geothermal energy, complete the national information statistics and monitoring system for the development and utilization of geothermal energy, increase the area of geothermal energy heating (cooling) by 50% over 2020, and build a number of geothermal power generation demonstration projects in areas with good resource conditions. Double the installed capacity of geothermal power generation in China compared with 2020; By 2035, the area of geothermal heating (cooling) and the installed capacity of geothermal power generation will strive to double compared with 2025.

2. Key tasks

(3) Deepen geothermal resource exploration. Geothermal resource exploration is the basis of geothermal energy development and utilization. The competent departments of natural resources of relevant provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government) shall organize the investigation and evaluation of geothermal resources, and, in accordance with the carrying capacity of resources and the environment and the conditions for the development and utilization of water resources, jointly with the competent departments of water administration, make an overall evaluation of the feasibility, suitability, total amount and intensity of the development and utilization of geothermal resources, and determine the scale of the development and utilization of geothermal resources with the geothermal field as the unit. The survey and evaluation of large-scale geothermal fields across provincial administrative areas shall be organized and implemented by the national public welfare geological survey agency. On this basis, mining limits and mining rights are determined scientifically and reasonably, and enterprises are introduced to carry out follow-up exploration, development and utilization.

(4) Actively promote the use of shallow geothermal energy. In Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, Lu, Henan and the Yangtze River Basin, shallow geothermal energy utilization should be promoted according to local conditions according to heating (cooling) needs, and demonstration zones for the cluster utilization of shallow geothermal energy should be built. While paying attention to the use of shallow geothermal energy in traditional urban areas, the high quality can meet the growing demand for heating in southern China and promote the utilization of geothermal energy in Yunnan-Guizhou alpine regions. According to the resource endowment of each region, the surface water source heat pump should be actively developed for heating and cooling in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River where surface water resources are abundant. Under the condition that the soil heat balance is satisfied, the buried pipe ground source heat pump is actively used for heating and cooling. For the areas with suitable hydrological and geological conditions and in line with the requirements of groundwater resource protection, under the premise of ensuring that the same aquifer takes the same amount of water and recharge, and does not pollute the groundwater, the underground water source heat pump is actively and steadily promoted for heating and cooling.

5. Prudently promoting medium and deep geothermal energy heating. In accordance with the resource situation and market demand, medium and deep geothermal energy heating will be steadily promoted in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Shanxi, Shandong, Shaanxi, Henan, Qinghai, Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning regions. All localities are encouraged, on the basis of resource assessment, environmental impact assessment and economic calculation, to choose, according to the actual situation, the technology of "heat extraction without water consumption, full equal amount of recharge in the same layer" or "sealed, non-interference underground heat transfer" to minimize the interference to underground soil, rock formations and water bodies, and ensure that the amount of groundwater does not decrease, the water level does not decrease, and the water quality does not decrease. Avoid damage to groundwater resources and the environment. We will encourage demonstration work on the centralized use of geothermal energy in medium and deep layers, demonstrate heating utilization models and application ranges of different geothermal resource grades, and explore new management technologies and market operation models conducive to the development and utilization of geothermal energy. It is appropriate to adopt the overall development of geothermal blocks to promote geothermal energy heating, mobilize the enthusiasm of enterprises to protect resources and sustainable development, and encourage the promotion of "geothermal energy +" multi-energy complementary heating forms.

(6) Encourage local governments to build high-quality geothermal energy development demonstration zones. Encourage all localities to carry out comprehensive utilization of geothermal energy with tourism, breeding and industry, step development and utilization of geothermal energy, and geothermal energy development and operation with digital and intelligent development, sum up the practical experience of renewable and effective geothermal energy development in various regions, and promote typical cases in a timely manner. Encourage all localities to innovate their management methods, and try to build high-quality geothermal energy development demonstration zones first, so as to rapidly promote the large-scale development of geothermal energy development and utilization in various areas, and promote geothermal energy to become an important force for clean heating.

7. Prudently promoting the construction of geothermal power generation demonstration projects. Focus on key technologies and complete sets of equipment for geothermal power generation to lay technical reserves for the large-scale development of geothermal power generation in the future. Timely research and introduction of supporting policies, organize the construction of medium-high temperature geothermal power generation projects in Tibet, western Sichuan, western Yunnan and other areas rich in high-temperature geothermal resources, and encourage the construction of medium-low moderate and dry hot rock geothermal power generation projects in places where conditions permit. We will support the integration of geothermal power generation with other renewable energy sources.

Third, standardize the management of geothermal energy development and utilization

(8) Overall planning of resources development layout of shallow geothermal energy projects. The relevant provincial (autonomous region and municipality directly under the Central Government) water administrative department shall, in accordance with the conditions of water resources, the management of water access and the needs of water resources protection, delimit the areas suitable for groundwater mining, restricted mining and prohibited mining for shallow geothermal energy projects, and rationally plan the layout of underground water well projects as the basis for the approval of project water intake permits. The exploitation of confined water aquifers, groundwater overexploitation areas, and groundwater drinking water source protection areas shall be prohibited.

(9) Standardize the filing or registration management of geothermal energy development and utilization projects. Project Local energy authorities are responsible for the large-scale heating (cooling) and power generation projects in the region (installed capacity of 1000 kW or heating area of more than 10,000 square meters) implementation of the record management, geothermal heating (cooling) projects below the scale need to register with the local energy authorities. Projects that have been put into operation can be directly registered with the local energy authorities.

(10) Simplify the preliminary procedures for geothermal energy development and utilization projects. Encourage the development of medium and deep geothermal resources in accordance with the principle of scale, and set up mineral rights blocks according to a certain scale area or geothermal field. For projects involving geothermal energy registration and water intake permit approval, the relevant competent authorities have adopted data sharing, centralized approval, and multi-departmental approval coordination to optimize the approval process and improve the approval efficiency. Where groundwater protection and management policies are met and water intake is involved, water resources demonstration shall be carried out and a water intake license shall be applied to the water administration department with jurisdiction. Local governments are encouraged to optimize the procedures for geothermal mining rights and water extraction permits and streamline approval requirements.

(11) Strengthen the supervision and inspection of geothermal energy development and utilization projects. According to the principle of controlling the total consumption of ground heat flux, controlling the maximum amount of water produced, and ensuring the same amount of recharge in the same layer, it adheres to the principle of "determined mining by irrigation, balanced mining and irrigation, and balanced water and heat". Establish a regular supervision and inspection mechanism and post-evaluation system for geothermal energy development and utilization projects, organize geothermal energy development and utilization projects to report construction and operation status on time, carry out continuous monitoring of the impact of geothermal energy development and utilization projects on groundwater, supervise and manage the safe and stable operation of geothermal energy heating projects and the guarantee of heat supply. Ensure the clean development and sustainable use of geothermal energy. Establish credit files for recharging enterprises, and focus on supervising and restricting the development of new geothermal energy in discredited enterprises.

(12) Strengthen the information management of geothermal energy development and utilization projects. The national energy authority, together with the development and reform, housing and urban and rural construction and water administrative departments, shall organize the National renewable energy information management Center and the National geothermal Center to build a geothermal energy information management platform. The provincial energy authorities are responsible for organizing the owners of geothermal energy heating (cooling) projects in the region to enter the project record/registration information in the geothermal energy information management platform, and update the operation status of the project on a monthly basis during the heating period, and regularly report the geothermal development and utilization data to the statistical department. Provincial natural resources departments organize exploration and development units to establish a dynamic monitoring system for geothermal resources, and carry out comprehensive monitoring of dynamic physical information such as temperature and flow of underground hot water. Exploration and development units shall install online metering facilities for water intake and recharge, and transmit the metering data in real time to water administrative departments with administrative authority. The provincial ecological environment competent department is responsible for supervising the owners of geothermal energy heating (refrigeration) projects in the region to carry out underground hot water and recharge water quality monitoring, and regularly report to the ecological environment competent department for the record according to relevant requirements.

Fourth, safeguard measures

(13) Make good plans for geothermal energy development and utilization and related connections. The competent energy departments at all levels shall, in conjunction with the relevant departments, include the development and utilization of geothermal energy in the compilation of renewable energy development plans. It is necessary to determine the goals, layout and implementation plans for the development and utilization of geothermal energy in the region in accordance with the requirements of water resources protection, geothermal resource endowment, clean energy demand and ecological and environmental protection. When planning the development and utilization of geothermal energy, all localities should take the territorial space planning at all levels as the basis for the layout of the development and utilization space, carry out environmental impact assessment and water resources demonstration in accordance with the law, implement the requirements for zoning control of the ecological environment, and make good connections with urban and municipal infrastructure planning, mineral resource planning, ecological environmental protection, groundwater utilization and protection planning and other related special plans. The provincial and municipal departments in charge of natural resources shall, in accordance with the overall deployment of the national mineral resources plan, formulate plans for the exploration and development of local geothermal resources, taking geothermal fields as a unit.

14. Creating a policy environment conducive to the development and utilization of geothermal energy. Encourage governments at all levels and departments in charge of development and reform, finance, natural resources, water administration, housing and urban and rural construction, ecological environment and energy to introduce fiscal and financial policies that are conducive to the development and utilization of geothermal energy. To study the use of existing channels to provide financial support for geothermal heating projects; Encourage and support enterprises to strengthen technological innovation, and jointly create a policy environment conducive to the development and utilization of geothermal energy.

(15) Clear division of responsibilities. The competent energy department shall, together with relevant departments, establish a working mechanism for the management and operation monitoring of geothermal energy development and utilization projects, and urge relevant parties to do a good job in the operation safety and heat supply guarantee of geothermal energy heating projects; The competent department of natural resources shall be responsible for organizing the investigation and evaluation of geothermal resources and the handling of mining rights; The water administration department is responsible for the examination and approval of water drawing permits and the management of water drawing, as well as the supervision of groundwater pumping and recharge. The competent department of ecological environment shall be responsible for the examination and approval of environmental impact assessment and the supervision of water quality monitoring; Urban heat supply departments shall be responsible for guiding urban heat supply work; Statistical departments include the development and utilization of geothermal energy in the national energy statistical system. Local departments can also adjust the division of labor according to the actual situation. Local governments are encouraged to establish a coordination mechanism for geothermal energy development and utilization management, take the lead in coordinating the management of geothermal energy survey, planning, development and utilization, and implement one-stop procedures for relevant procedures.