News
Mar 23, 2009CanGEA Responds to Canadian Geothermal Underestimate
In a recent draft report on renewable energy in Western North America published by the Western Governors’ Association, the potential for Canadian geothermal power was heavily understated. The report states that there are a mere 244 Megawatts of geothermal power potential in Canada, whereas CanGEA maintains that the correct estimate is in excess of 5,000 Megawatts. In response, CanGEA issued a letter to the committee responsible for the Western Renewable Energy Zones report, with evidence in support of CanGEA’s claim that the correct Canadian Geothermal potential is much higher. The final copy of this report will have implications on new transmission infrastructure in the US, and hence the availability to deliver Canadian geothermal power for export. CanGEA continues to work hard for the benefit of our members and the future of the industry in Canada!
Maps and documents are available to members only.
Mar 19, 2009
CanGEA speaking with NRCan and Environment Canada
CanGEA has been increasing geothermal awareness at the federal level. Last week, CanGEA Chairman and Executive Director Alison Thompson and Board Member Craig Aspinall met with a dozen representatives from NRCan in Ottawa to discuss Canada’s massive geothermal resource potential as well as the need for support to “kick-start” the industry. Geothermal energy could be the cornerstone to the 90% non-emitting power goals set by the federal government for 2020.
Alison Thompson will also be meeting with representatives from Environment Canada at Minister of Environment Jim Prentice’s Calgary office to discuss geothermal in Canada’s clean energy future.
Mar 18, 2009
USA Today: “Texas oilmen lead charge of ‘green’ energy exploration”
An article from USA Today on Texas oilmen and oil companies moving towards cleaner, renewable-energy strategies. CanGEA would like to encourage Canadian oilmen and women to do the same!
HOUSTON — George Alcorn is a third-generation Texas oilman. His grandfather drilled for oil in the 1930s, then his father and his uncles followed suit.
When Alcorn, 51, looks into the future of his business, though, he doesn’t see black oil gushing from a well — he sees steam. Alcorn recently revamped his business strategy from traditional oil exploration to using abandoned wells and drilling technology to generate geothermal energy as a way to power cities.
The rough-and-tumble image of the Texas oilman may be turning “green.” An increasing number of Texas oilmen and companies are following Alcorn’s lead and swapping oil and gas production for cleaner, renewable-energy strategies.
To read full article: Click here.
Mar 13, 2009
Shallow Geothermal Resource Potential Paper from Steve Grasby and Jacek Majorowicz
Geothermal researchers Steve Grasby, Jacek Majorowicz and Walter Skinner have released a paper on the estimation of shallow geothermal energy resource potential in Canada. The paper is a first in many years featuring detailed mapping of shallow geothermal reservoirs and will be crucial for geothermal heat pump development. CanGEA would like to thank Steve Grasby, Jacek Majorowicz and Walter Skinner on their continued work and support of geothermal in Canada!
Free access to an abstract and preview is available at:
http://www.springerlink.com/content/105547/?sortorder=asc&Content+Status=Accepted
Mar 12, 2009
Toronto Star: “Canada’s ground temperatures rising, study finds”
An article from Toronto Star columnist & energy reporter Tyler Hamilton. CanGEA Executive Director and Chairman Alison Thompson is featured in the article. CanGEA encourages readers to check out Tyler Hamilton’s energy blog as well.
The study, recently published online in the journal Natural Resource Research, assessed ground temperatures across Canada down to 250 metres to get a sense of the potential resource. The researchers found that the heat energy in the first 50 metres alone was roughly equivalent to the commercially recoverable energy in the oil sands.
Alison Thompson, executive director of the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association, said the geological survey studies are welcome and long overdue, but the analysis is based on ground temperature data collected prior to 1985, which is when funding for the federal geothermal energy program was pulled.
Thompson said new data must be collected to get an accurate estimate and to raise the profile of geothermal energy, which despite its massive potential is largely overlooked in Canada as a renewable source of electricity generation.
To read the full article: Click here.
Mar 09, 2009
Calgary Herald: “U.S. to grant $84M for geothermal”
An article from The Calgary Herald detailing the U.S. plan to grant $84 million for geothermal energy development. CanGEA will be in Ottawa during the week of March 9th, 2009 meeting with NRCan to discuss matching the funding issued in the U.S.
To read the full article: Click here.
Mar 09, 2009
Toronto Star: “Our man in Washington”
An editorial in the Toronto Star on Canada’s current environmental concerns with mention of geothermal energy.
Ottawa seems strangely complacent about our black eye abroad. Rather than meet the criticism head on, by promising to do better with geothermal and other energy-saving technologies, the federal government falls back on the panacea of CCS.
To read the full article: Click here.
Mar 08, 2009
CleanBreak.com: “Geothermal in Alberta finally getting some push”
It’s still a long shot, not technologically as much as politically, but more voices are beginning to speak out about the potential for geothermal heat and power generation in Alberta, a province that’s heavily dependent on coal and where the oil sands rely on clean gas to produce the dirtiest of liquid petro products.
The Pembina Institute came out with a report this month that explores the many ways Alberta could transition away from coal and toward more sustainable and cleaner forms of electricity generation. I was most impressed with the section on geothermal, given that in Canada there hasn’t been much interest in this renewable source of power, with the exception of yours truly and a dozen or so industry and academic folks who are trying to draw attention to this immense opportunity.
To read the full article: Click here.
Mar 04, 2009
CanGEA Press Release: CanGEA renews its MOU with the CGC
CanGEA would like to announce that they have renewed their Memorandum of Understanding with the Canadian GeoExchange Colaition (CGC). The CGC will also participate in CanGEA’s Geothermal Energy Conference April 22 - 24, 2009 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
For more information:PR_03-02-2009_E_CANGEA_Conference.pdf
Mar 03, 2009
Scientific American: Can Geothermal Power Compete with Coal on Price?
An article from Scientific American:
Combine a new U.S. president pushing a stimulus package that includes $28 billion in direct subsidies for renewable energy with another $13 billion for research and development, and the picture for renewable energy—geothermal power among the options—is brightening. The newest report, from international investment bank Credit Suisse, says geothermal power costs 3.6 cents per kilowatt-hour, versus 5.5 cents per kilowatt-hour for coal
To read the full article: http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=can-geothermal-power-compete-with-coal-on-price