The Future of Geothermal Energy in Qingzang Plateau

Abstract

This chapter discusses the future of geothermal energy in Qingzang Plateau. The current situation of geothermal exploitation is that direct use ranks first in the world and geothermal power generation ranks eighteenth in 24 countries. The direct use in China mainly presented in bigger cities of eastern part of country to use intermediate-low temperature hot water from sedimentary basin. But the remote west region abounds in high-temperature geothermal resources and hydroelectric potentials. Thus, the geothermal electricity could only be an important supplement to hydropower stations.