Geothermal-Powered Greenhouses: Qingyun County's Leap Toward Sustainable, Year-Round Agriculture in Shandong

Harnessing Geothermal Energy to Power Modern Agriculture: How Qingyun County Is Redefining Sustainable Food Production in Shandong

By: Robert Buluma

As winter tightens its grip across northern China, most agricultural regions brace for declining productivity, rising energy costs, and increased environmental pressure. Yet in Qingyun County, located in China’s eastern Shandong Province, a different story is unfolding,one where geothermal energy is quietly transforming agriculture into a resilient, low-carbon, high-yield enterprise.

At the heart of this transformation lies the Shandong Shuifa Aerospace Modern Agriculture Industrial Park, where geothermal energy has become a critical enabler of year-round food production, economic efficiency, and environmental sustainability.

A Warm Oasis in the Depth of Winter

Shortly after the Minor Snow solar term, temperatures outside the greenhouses in Qingyun County drop sharply. Inside the intelligent greenhouse complex, however, conditions remain comfortably stable at around 20°C. Rows of tomato vines stretch upward, heavy with fruit in varying shades of green and red. The environment is vibrant, controlled, and highly productive,an agricultural oasis powered not by fossil fuels, but by the heat beneath the earth.

The smart greenhouse facility spans approximately 107 acres and hosts more than 60,000 tomato plants. According to Zhang Weiheng, Plant Protection and Horticultural Engineer at Shandong Shuifa Aerospace Modern Agriculture Technology Co., Ltd., the greenhouses are currently in peak fruiting season, producing over 10 tonnes of tomatoes daily. Remarkably, this level of productivity is expected to continue steadily until June of the following year.

Such performance is no accident. It is the direct result of a strategic shift in the greenhouse heating system,from natural gas to geothermal energy.

From Natural Gas to Geothermal: A Strategic Energy Transition

Historically, the facility relied on natural gas for winter heating. Each heating season consumed more than 1.25 million cubic meters of gas, resulting in high operational costs and significant carbon emissions. Annual heating expenses alone reached approximately RMB 5.6 million, placing considerable financial strain on the operation while contributing to environmental degradation.

Recognizing both the economic and ecological limitations of this model, the company—supported by local government authorities—explored alternative energy solutions. Qingyun County’s abundant geothermal resources provided a compelling opportunity.

Following extensive research and feasibility assessments, the enterprise drilled six deep geothermal wells within the industrial park—three for extraction and three for reinjection. This closed-loop system ensures sustainable use of underground thermal resources while protecting groundwater integrity.

Engineering Innovation: Overcoming Temperature Constraints

One technical challenge quickly became apparent. While geothermal water was readily available, its temperature was approximately 50°C below the 80°C threshold required to maintain optimal greenhouse conditions during harsh winter periods.

Rather than abandoning the geothermal approach, the company adopted a hybrid heating system combining geothermal energy with electric heating technology. The solution integrates ground-source heat pumps with supplementary electric heating, effectively boosting the temperature to required levels while retaining the cost and emissions advantages of geothermal energy.

This innovative “geothermal + electric” heating system has proven highly effective. Compared to the previous natural gas setup, heating costs have been reduced by nearly 80 percent—a dramatic improvement in operational efficiency.

Smart Agriculture Meets Smart Energy

Heating a greenhouse complex of this scale presents another challenge: uniform temperature distribution. Large greenhouse areas can experience uneven heating, negatively affecting crop growth and quality.

To address this, the facility deployed more than 200 sensors throughout the greenhouse complex. These sensors continuously monitor temperature, humidity, and external weather conditions. When outdoor temperatures fall below freezing, the intelligent control system automatically activates both medium- and high-temperature heat pumps, precisely regulating water temperature and flow rates.

This level of automation ensures consistent heating across the entire greenhouse, maintaining optimal growing conditions for crops and minimizing stress on plants. The result is not only higher yields but also superior product quality.

Tangible Benefits: Higher Yields, Better Quality, Earlier Market Entry

The shift to geothermal heating has delivered measurable agricultural benefits. Tomato fruit set rates have increased by more than 15 percent compared to previous years. Crop quality has improved, with lower rates of spoilage and defects. Additionally, tomatoes are reaching the market earlier in the season, allowing the company to capture higher prices and stronger demand in major markets such as Beijing, Tianjin, and the Yangtze River Delta.

From a business perspective, the numbers speak for themselves. According to Lu Zhihao, General Manager of Shandong Shuifa Aerospace Modern Agriculture Technology Co., Ltd., annual heating costs have dropped to approximately RMB 2 million. Each heating season now saves more than RMB 3 million while reducing carbon emissions by over 30 percent.

This combination of cost reduction, productivity gains, and environmental benefits has significantly enhanced the company’s overall profitability and resilience.

Government Support and a Replicable Model

Qingyun County’s geothermal agriculture success did not occur in isolation. Local authorities played a critical role by aligning resource development with enterprise needs, streamlining approvals, and supporting infrastructure development. The project has since been highlighted as a model case of government responsiveness and problem-solving at the grassroots level.

More broadly, the initiative demonstrates how local governments can leverage renewable energy resources to solve real economic challenges faced by enterprises,especially in energy-intensive sectors such as modern agriculture.

Geothermal Energy: A Powerful Tool for Agricultural Decarbonization

The Qingyun experience underscores a vital lesson for agricultural regions worldwide: geothermal energy is not only a clean power source for electricity generation,it is also a highly effective solution for direct-use applications such as greenhouse heating.

Unlike solar or wind, geothermal energy provides stable, baseload thermal output, making it particularly suitable for agricultural operations that require constant temperature control. When paired with smart systems and hybrid technologies, geothermal energy can unlock year-round productivity while sharply reducing emissions.

Looking Ahead: A Sustainable Path for Rural Revitalization

As China advances its dual goals of carbon reduction and rural revitalization, projects like the Qingyun geothermal greenhouse offer a compelling blueprint. By integrating clean energy, intelligent systems, and high-value agriculture, regions can boost food security, improve farmer incomes, and protect the environment simultaneously.

For Qingyun County, geothermal energy has become more than a heat source it is a catalyst for agricultural modernization and sustainable development. And as climate pressures and energy costs continue to rise globally, this quiet success story from Shandong may soon inspire similar transformations far beyond China’s borders.

Source: Dazhong Daily, December 9, 2025

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