Evaluation of the Endowment of Geothermal Resources and Its Impact on Regional Industrial Structure: A Case Study of Qinghai Province (China)

Zhen Zhao, Guangxiong Qin, Baizhong Yan () and Chuanlong Han
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Zhen Zhao: Faculty of Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
Guangxiong Qin: Faculty of Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
Baizhong Yan: College of Water Resources and Environment, Hebei GEO University, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
Chuanlong Han: College of Water Resources and Environment, Hebei GEO University, Shijiazhuang 050031, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 4, 1-19

Abstract: Geothermal resources are considered a clean energy source, and their development plays a key role in achieving sustainable development. This energy contributes to environmental protection, energy security, and economic growth, while also helping to alleviate energy poverty. Qinghai Province, rich in geothermal resources, holds significant potential for development. First, this study evaluated the geothermal resources in the uplifted mountainous regions of Qinghai Province using the volumetric method and analyzed their spatial distribution. Next, the degree of geothermal resource endowment was measured, and the relationship between geothermal resources and industrial structure was analyzed. Finally, the Vector Autoregression (VAR) model and impulse response function were applied to assess the impact and duration of geothermal resources on changes in the industrial structure from 2000 to 2020. Geothermal resources in Qinghai Province exhibit significant regional variation, with the northern and western regions being particularly rich in geothermal resources, peaking at 3.58 × 10 17 J in Banma County. Geothermal resources in Qinghai are predominantly utilized for power generation, averaging 42.20% of energy consumption. The interplay between geothermal resource use and industrial structure is intensifying, notably in secondary and tertiary sectors. Initially restrictive, the influence of industrial structure on geothermal resource use is projected to become facilitative as clean energy technologies advance. This study revealed the relationship between geothermal resources and the local industrial structure in Qinghai Province, providing a scientific basis for the sustainable and efficient development and utilization of these resources. It contributed to the long-term sustainability of geothermal resource exploitation.

Keywords: geothermal resource; industrial structure; VAR regression model; Qinghai province (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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