An Overview of Geothermal Resources in Tibet, China

The Indian Plate has continued northward subduction following its collision with the Eurasian Plate, giving rise to the Tibetan Plateau — the highest and one of its youngest plateaus in the world. Endowed with abundant geothermal resources, Tibetan plateau exhibits a diverse array of surface manifestations, including geysers, hydrothermal explosions, steaming grounds, mud springs, boiling and thermal springs, montmorillonite–kaolinite alteration zones, and deposits of siliceous sinter and travertine.

Over the past decade, we have conducted surveys of more than 500 hot springs across the Tibet, collecting thermal water, gas and sinter samples for chemical composition analysis and H–O–Sr–Li isotopic studies. These investigations have identified numerous hot springs enriched in dissolved boron, lithium, and cesium, as well as in helium and hydrogen gases. Notably, the plateau’s salt lakes are closely linked to hot springs, with the two often coexisting: thermal springs continuously supply mineral substances to sustain the lakes.

High-temperature geothermal fields in Tibet are primarily concentrated along the Yarlung Zangbo suture zone and within north–south-trending rift systems, where they are closely associated with partially molten bodies, e.g. the Yangbajain, Yangyi, and Daggyai geothermal fields. In contrast, low- to medium-temperature geothermal systems are distributed extensively across the plateau, sustained by elevated regional heat flow; representative cases include the Nagqu, Ningzhong, and Cuna geothermal fields. Additionally, the presence of large-scale ancient sinter deposits in the northern Tibet further attests to the once highly developed hydrothermal activity in this region.

To date, four geothermal power stations have been constructed in Tibet, of which only the Yangyi Geothermal Power Station remains operational. A new Geothermal Power Station in Gulu is currently under construction. In 2024, we drilled an exploration well at the foot of Qomolangma (Mount Everest), where the temperature of the produced thermal fluid reached as high as 193 °C.

In recent years, geothermal district heating has expanded rapidly in Tibet. Beyond heating, geothermal water is also widely utilized for hot spring therapy, aquaculture, and recreational facilities such as swimming pools and water surfing venues. As a critical component alongside solar, wind, and hydropower, geothermal energy will play a pivotal role in advancing Tibet’s development into a national-level clean energy demonstration base, thereby providing robust support for the region’s high-quality economic and social development.