- The Province of Jiangsu in China has successfully completed a geothermal power generation test, producing an output of over 200 kW from the Yangshen 1 well.
- Du Jianguo, director of the Basic Research Institute of Jiangsu Provincial Geological Survey, explained that the success of the project is a crucial step in promoting a cascade model for the utilisation of geothermal energy.
The Province of Jiangsu in China has successfully completed a geothermal power generation test, producing an output of over 200 kW from the Yangshen 1 well located in Xiaoyangkou, Rudong County. This marks the first time that the province has generated electricity from a deep geothermal source.
The project was jointly implemented by the Jiangsu Provincial Geological Survey Institute, the Rudong County Bureau of Natural Resources and Planning, and Jiangsu Yangtong Development and Investment Co., Ltd.
The Yangshen 1 well has a wellhead temperature of 108 °C and a daily water output of 5360 cubic meters. Zou Pengfei, deputy director of the Basic Research Institute of Jiangsu Provincial Geological Survey, explains that the well represents a rare, high-quality geothermal resource in the eastern coast of China. It was previously reported that the recorded bottom-hole temperature at the Yangshen 1 well reached 112.82°C,
Pengfei further recounts that the project went through multiple rounds of scientific demonstrations and technology comparisons to address common industry challenges such as low power generation efficiency and scaling from high-mineralisation fluids.
Ultimately, the decision was made to use a modular ORC unit because the technology was considered mature and reliable. Active scale prevention technology tailored to the water quality characteristics was also introduced into the system.
Du Jianguo, director of the Basic Research Institute of Jiangsu Provincial Geological Survey, explained that the success of the project is a crucial step in promoting a cascade model for the utilisation of geothermal energy.
Beyond filling a gap for geothermal power generation, the project also lays the foundation for comprehensive geothermal utilisation models that integrate heating and cooling, agriculture, and product drying.
“The continuous and stable operation of this experiment fully verified the adaptability of this technical route under the specific geological resource conditions in Jiangsu, realising the leap from ‘theoretical design’ to ‘engineering verification’,” further remarked Jianguo.
In late 2024, ThinkGeoEnergy reported on the first geothermal power demonstration of Sinopec in Xianyang City in Shaanxi Province. While China holds a commanding lead in the global geothermal heating market, the country is yet to develop geothermal power generation at scale.