The Cartographic and Geological Institute of Catalonia (ICGC) participated in an international meeting in China dedicated to the exchange of knowledge and experience regarding geothermal energy. This participation allowed us to share the work we are doing in Catalonia to assess geothermal resources while also gaining firsthand insight into China’s experience; China is a global leader in the use of geothermal energy for thermal applications and district heating networks.

At the invitation of the Shanxi Geological Survey, we took part in the TELC 2026 international forum on energy and low-carbon development—held on September 4 and 5 in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province (China)—as well as the International Geothermal Forum, which took place on September 5 as part of the event.

Herms, Head of the Geological Resources Area at the ICGC, and Cornelia Steiner from the Geological Survey of Austria (GeoSphere Austria), pictured at the event in front of the TELC 2026 forum sign.
 

We participated on behalf of EuroGeoSurveys, the organization representing Europe's geological surveys. Ignasi Herms—Head of the ICGC’s Geological Resources Area and Vice-President for Geothermal Energy within the EuroGeoSurveys Geoenergy Expert Group—was one of six international experts invited to the meeting, alongside Cornelia Steiner, a geothermal project manager at the Geological Survey of Austria (GeoSphere Austria). Both attended as representatives of this expert group. During the forum, we shared the Catalan experience regarding geothermal resource assessment, the development of open-source tools, and technical support for public authorities to facilitate deployment. We also highlighted the role of geological surveys in generating and disseminating the subsurface knowledge needed to drive this energy source. 

During the forum, we shared the Catalan experience regarding geothermal resource assessment, the development of open-source tools, and technical support for public authorities to facilitate deployment. We also highlighted the role of geological surveys in generating and disseminating the subsurface knowledge needed to drive this energy source.

The gathering brought together representatives from geological surveys, research institutions, international bodies, and the Chinese geothermal sector—including the Iceland GeoSurvey (ÍSOR), the GRÓ Geothermal Training Programme (GRÓ GTP) under the auspices of UNESCO, the International Geothermal Standards Committee (IGSC), and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

Deep geothermal energy to decarbonize an airport

The program included a visit to the decarbonization project at Taiyuan Wusu International Airport, where a deep geothermal system is currently under construction. This system comprises 28 wells—each between 2 and 3 kilometers deep—designed to generate thermal energy for the airport complex's climate control systems.

Visit to the Taiyuan Wusu International Airport decarbonization project.

International delegation during a round-table discussion with authorities from the Chinese province of Shanxi.

The system combines geothermal energy with 108.5 MW of solar photovoltaic generation, energy storage, and heat pumps, aiming to move the airport toward net-zero carbon operations.

Deep geothermal well drilling operations at one of the sites around Taiyuan Wusu Airport.

Pipes and drilling machinery at one of the construction sites for the deep geothermal wells at Taiyuan Wusu Airport.

Participating in this forum allows us to share the knowledge we have developed in Catalonia regarding geothermal resource assessment while incorporating international experience from real-world project implementation. This exchange strengthens the cooperation needed to advance the deployment of deep geothermal energy in Catalonia.