Geothermal energy resource potential of Canada

Abstract

Canada has enormous geothermal energy resources that could supply a renewable and clean source of power. There are many constraints, however, in utilizing this energy resource, including geological, technical, and regulatory issues. The intent of this report is to examine the geothermal potential in Canada, and the geological controls on the distribution of high grade resources as well as controls on the economic development and production of geothermal energy. This assessment is based on a new compilation and digitization of data produced through over 48 years of geothermal research in Canada. Recommendations on current and future research needs to reduce barriers to resource production are made at the end of the report. Currently Canada has no geothermal electrical production; however, direct use and heat exchange systems are used widely. Several projects are currently being examined by industry and government to develop electrical potential in Canada. A key economic constraint for these projects is the high risk of exploration due to costs of deep drilling. The cost of delivered geothermal power is projected to decline and be competitive with coal fired production within the next 15 years, given current levels of technology. Canada's in-place geothermal power exceeds one million times Canada's current electrical consumption (Fig. 1). However, only a fraction of this total potential could be developed. Much of the resource lies beyond current drilling technology, outside of areas served by high-capacity transmission lines, and at some distance from load centres. Nonetheless, the available high grade geothermal resource is considerable. High temperature hydrothermal systems can be brought on line with proven technology. Many of the tools required to bring geothermal energy to full realization, however, are not commercially proven to date and require further research and technology development. We can expect a strong learning curve and price response as geothermal energy is developed while other energy sources such as coal and nuclear will begin to see fleet and capacity retirements.

Characteristics and fate of isolated permafrost patches in coastal Labrador, Canada

“…Mean temperatures at 1 m depth at the four sites with boreholes varied from -0.7°C to -1.4°C, while permafrost thickness based on drill records and the ERT profiles varied from 3.7 to 8 m. Calculated geothermal 5 gradients ranged from 0.10°C/m to 0.38°C/m which greatly exceed typical regional values of 0.005-0.01°C/m (Grasby et al, 2012). These results imply high heat flows into the atmosphere and suggest that these small permafrost bodies act as conduits for advective heat originating from surrounding snow-covered terrain in winter and from the unfrozen bog in summer.…”

Evaluation of NaCl and MgCl2 heat exchange fluids in a deep binary geothermal system in a sedimentary halite formation

“…Investigations into EGS for electricity production are underway in Canada and abroad, e.g. (Ferguson and Grasby, 2014;Grasby et al, 2012;Hadgu et al, 2016;Ledésert and Hébert, 2012;Limberger et al, 2018;Majorowicz and Moore, 2014). The Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin and Williston Basin in the Canadian Prairies have the potential for sedimentary geothermal energy production (Jacek and Stephen, 2010;Majorowicz and Moore, 2014;Manz, 2011;Walsh, 2013).…”

Magnetotelluric imaging of anisotropic crust near Fort McMurray, Alberta: implications for engineered geothermal system development

“…• E, caused primarily by the topographic load of the Rocky Mountains (Grasby et al 2012). Studies by Majorowicz et al (2013) indicate a heat flow of approximately 60 W m -2 , as compared to the cratonic Canadian mean of approximately 42 W m -2 .…”

“…In this case, the preferred direction was chosen to be approximately northeast, consistent with the strike of the basement terranes of Alberta (e.g. Eaton et al 2004;Grasby et al 2012;Nieuwenhuis et al 2014). Two distinct strike direction regimes are identified:…”