Geothermal energy is set to play a bigger role as the State-owned Sinopec Group makes inroads into the clean fuel's exploration and development through international technological exchanges designed to reduce the country's carbon footprint.

On Monday, Sinopec Star Petroleum Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sinopec, put a geothermal energy utilization project into operation in Henan province.

It will supplant natural gas consumption by about 4.87 million cubic meters annually and reduce carbon emissions of 70 million cubic meters, according to the company.