Members of the EuroGeoSurveys GeoEnergy Expert Group (GEEG) participated in the 2026 Taiyuan Energy Low Carbon Development Forum, held on 4 and 5 September in Taiyaun, Shanxi Province, China, and in the International Geothermal Forum on 5 September, following an invitation from the Shanxi Geological Prospecting Bureau, China.

The GEEG was represented by its Deputy Chairs, Cornelia Steiner (GeoSphere Austria) and Ignasi Herms (Institut Cartogràfic i Geològic de Catalunya). They joined international experts from organisations including 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), alongside representatives of leading Chinese geoscience institutions and authorities.

Our experts participated in a round table discussion on international cooperation and the future of geothermal energy development. They shared European experiences in shallow and deep geothermal energy and highlighted the role of EuroGeoSurveys and our Member Geological Survey Organisations in providing geological data, resource assessments and knowledge for geothermal development. They also presented the Geological Service for Europe (GSEU) project as an example of European cooperation to improve access to harmonised data and information on sustainable geoenergy. 

The programme included a technical visit to the geothermal drilling operations for the Taiyuan Wusu International Airport, where 28 mid-deep geothermal wells arranged in injection–production doublets are under development.

The visit provided valuable opportunities for exchange between European, Chinese and other international experts for strengthening future cooperation in geothermal energy. As it was highlighted during the Roundtable: Geothermal resources are local, but the knowledge and experience needed to develop them can and should be shared internationally.