Objective Geothermal power generation, as a stable, reliable, clean, and low-carbon baseload renewable energy source, is of great significance to the global energy transition and the achievement of the "dual carbon" goals.

Method This paper reviewed the current status of geothermal power generation globally. Traditional technologies—including dry steam, flash steam, binary cycle, and total flow power generation—were analyzed, followed by an introduction to cutting-edge technologies such as hot dry rock, CO₂ plume geothermal, and thermoelectric power generation. Furthermore, key generic technologies—including reservoir characterization and stimulation, drilling and completion, corrosion and scaling control, as well as non-condensable gas treatment and reinjection—were systematically summarized. Finally, the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) and relevant policy frameworks around the world were analyzed.

Result The results indicate that the installed capacity of global geothermal power generation is growing steadily, and frontier technologies represented by enhanced geothermal systems have gradually achieved breakthroughs from demonstration to commercialization. Although China’s geothermal power industry started early and is endowed with abundant hot dry rock geothermal resources, its overall development lags behind, resulting in a low resource utilization rate.

Conclusion The strategic value of global geothermal resources is severely mismatched with the actual installed scale of geothermal power. The geothermal industry still faces prominent technical bottlenecks, insufficient demonstration applications, and inadequate policy support. In the future, it is imperative to strengthen key technological research, accelerate the construction of demonstration projects, and improve industrial incentive policies, so as to promote the large-scale, commercial, and high-quality development of the geothermal power industry.