International geothermal standards committee launched

The International Geothermal Standard Committee (IGSC), was officially established on 26 November in Beijing, China, with its permanent Secretariat hosted by China Petroleum and Chemical Corp (Sinopec), marking a milestone in global geothermal standardisation.

Initiated by the International Geothermal Association (IGA), the IGSC brings together 30 leading experts from 15 countries as its inaugural committee members. The committee has been formed to lead the development and promotion of unified international geothermal standards, accelerate technology deployment, and ensure the healthy, sustainable growth of the global geothermal industry chain.

“As the world undergoes a profound energy transition, geothermal energy… is emerging as a strategic cornerstone of the future energy mix. Unified and mutually recognised standards are the foundation for lowering international cooperation barriers, speeding up technology transfer and securing a resilient global geothermal supply chain,” commented Niu Shuanwen, senior vice-president of Sinopec. “Sinopec will spare no effort in supporting the IGSC and translating global consensus into actionable standards that drive real impact.”

During the meeting, members unanimously adopted the IGSC Standard Development Procedures and the 2025–2027 Work Programme. Going forward, the committee intends to systematically advance a comprehensive geothermal standard system covering the full industry chain, including district heating, drilling and completion, power generation, reservoir engineering, resource exploration and evaluation, and shallow geothermal systems, with a focus on processes, methods, equipment and materials.

“The establishment of the IGSC transforms a long-standing industry consensus into urgent action,” remarked Bjarni Pálsson, president of the International Geothermal Association. “By pooling worldwide expertise in an open and inclusive manner, we will deliver authoritative international standards and guidelines, laying a solid foundation for large-scale, efficient geothermal development and contributing meaningfully to global climate goals.”

Sinopec, China’s largest developer and operator of mid and deep-geothermal energy, has drafted more than 50% of China’s national geothermal standards and led the country’s first IGA international standard. Its landmark ‘smoke-free city’ geothermal heating project in Xiongxian County, Hebei Province, has been included in the global promotion catalogue of the International Renewable Energy Agency.

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