The International Geothermal Standard Committee (IGSC) was officially launched in Beijing, with its permanent secretariat hosted by China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec). The initiative, led by the International Geothermal Association (IGA), aims to establish global standardisation for geothermal technologies.
The committee brings together 30 experts from 15 countries and is tasked with coordinating the development of unified international standards across the entire geothermal industrial chain. This includes exploration, drilling, heat or power production, and shallow geothermal systems. The 2025–2027 work programme was unanimously adopted by the founding members.
Toward harmonised industrial practices
The standardised procedures established by the committee are intended to facilitate technology transfer among sector stakeholders. They are also designed to remove barriers to international cooperation amid the growing expansion of geothermal energy worldwide. Through Sinopec, China is strengthening its role in the technical governance of this sector.
“Unified and mutually recognised standards are the foundation for reducing barriers to international cooperation,” said Niu Shuanwen, Senior Vice-President of Sinopec. The company, which currently provides geothermal heating for more than 126 million square metres of building space, plays a central role in geothermal development in China.
A normative infrastructure under construction
The forthcoming standards will cover drilling methods, reservoir operation processes, the materials used and the associated equipment. The stated ambition is to build a global technical reference framework that supports large-scale industrial projects. IGA President Bjarni Pálsson emphasised the importance of “delivering authoritative international standards and guidelines” to support the sector’s current growth trajectory.
Sinopec has already drafted over half of China’s existing geothermal standards and led the first IGA-backed international standard. Its geothermal project in Xiongxian County, Hebei Province, was recognised by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), illustrating its capacity to lead high-value benchmark projects within the sector.
