The 7th World Geothermal Congress (WGC2023) was held in Beijing, China, under the theme “Clean Geothermal, Green Earth”. This is the first geothermal event of this magnitude to be organized in China. More than 1,400 guests from 54 countries and regions attended the three-day conference. The event included 88 forums and seminars, as well as a technology and equipment exhibition, in which a record number of companies participated.
Two reports were presented during WGC2023: the “Global Geothermal Power Generation Progress Report” and the “Global Review of Geothermal Heating and Cooling Production in 2023”. These reports highlight current achievements in global geothermal development. Some key findings include:
– 31 countries currently operate geothermal power plants, with a global installation capacity of 16,260 megawatts.
– Commercially exploited hydrothermal resources produce an average of about 3 megawatt-hours per well per year.
– By 2022, the global installed geothermal heating and cooling capacity will reach 173 million kWh, an increase of 60% from 2020, led by China.
– In 2022, global geothermal energy consumption reached 1,476 PJ (410 TWh), representing an increase of 44% from 2020. Geothermal heating and cooling of buildings accounted for approximately 79 % of this total.
In addition, China released the first national report on geothermal development titled “Report on the High-Quality Development of Geothermal Industry in China.” With abundant geothermal resources accounting for about one-sixth of the world’s total and great potential for their development and utilization, China remains the world’s first for direct geothermal heating. Sinopec, as a leader in the development and use of geothermal energy in China, operates a key laboratory for the development of geothermal resources and has more than 130 technology patents. The company currently has geothermal heating capacity in more than 60 cities in 11 provinces, with 22 cities exceeding one million square meters of capacity. Sinopec aims to exceed 100 million square meters of geothermal heating capacity by the end of 2023.
Overall, the 7th World Geothermal Congress in Beijing brought together world experts and players to push green development strategies and pave the way to a greener future.
