To investigate the profile and traits of innovation of geothermal heat-supply engineering in China

the research developed a data-set utilizing the 24 cases from The National Collection of Renewable Energy Heat-Supply Projects with the approach of multiple cases analysis. The research revealed the innovation traits of recommended projects. The results show a noticeable extension of geothermal heat-supply regions

a spread of the utilization approaches of geothermal energy

and a sharp difference in project types across various areas. It is found that the projects are also successful in enhancing the engineering and managerial efficiency

and transforming project builders with other backgrounds to geothermal developers.However

there still exist shortages in terms of comparing with alternative energy systems

realizing the goal of sustainable and productive usage of geothermal energy

developing the green and environmental indicators

obtaining synchronous rise of controlling initial investment and operation cost

and attracting further investor attention. It is found that less than 30% of the projects compare the system efficiency with solar thermal collectors and other competitive energy devices

less than 15% of the projects apply numerical simulations and other advanced techniques

less than 30% of the projects report power saving

water saving and NOxreduction indicators

37.5% of the projects provide no information about the investment saving status

and less than 25% of the investors are local government

energy consuming enterprises and real estate developers. The future work should pay attention on strengthening the strategic plan for the resources utilization

improving the integration capacity of the systems

promoting the technical standards

and reducing the developing and operating costs.