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Jan 17, 2008CanGEA Press Release: Canadian Geothermal Industry Tightens Cooperation
Canadian Geothermal Industry Tightens Cooperation
Canadian GeoExchange Coalition (CGC) and Canadian Geothermal Energy Association (CanGEA) Sign Cooperation Memorandum.
Calgary, December 10, 2007 –The Canadian GeoExchange Coalition (CGC) and the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association (CanGEA) announced today the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at promoting active cooperation in the field of geothermal energy and geothermal heat pump technology. The associations play complementary roles and together represent the entire spectrum of geothermal applications - including low temperature heat pumps, medium temperature direct use and high temperature electricity generation.
The growth for geothermal electric power has been approximately three percent yearly over the past ten years with an average of 250 MWe of capacity added each year. “In Canada, where geothermal electric power potential exists but no projects are operating”, Alison Thompson, Vice President of CanGEA comments “it can be confidently said that we have yet to even begin to tap our nation’s economic and environmental potential of geothermal energy.”
In contrast, the geothermal heat pump market has expanded at a rate close to 40 % annually over each of the past three years. “We are now entering a consolidation phase of our industry with the implementation of key market infrastructure tools such as training and accreditation to help sustain the expected growth,” said Denis Tanguay, CGC President & CEO. “As the geoexchange industry grows, new technologies and applications are emerging. Sharing key information between the low, medium and high temperature stakeholders will help us promote the overall use of geothermal energy in Canada,” he added.
“It is because of this significant growth potential in the geothermal industry and the impressive environmental characteristics of these projects, that CanGEA warmly welcomes the co-operation of CGC and CanGEA working together to bring Canadians a renewable, reliable and responsible form of energy,” added Alison Thompson.
Cooperation will be encouraged in a number of areas including exchange of information, development of business opportunities, joint initiatives such as R&D and market response projects and general geothermal energy and geothermal heat pump technology cooperation. Recently, CGC and CanGEA made joint representation to the Federal Government asking for the restoration of geothermal funding for the Geological Survey of Canada.
The Canadian Geothermal Energy Association (CanGEA) is an organisation of industry (geothermal & oil and gas) and academic representatives involved in advocating rapid development of geothermal projects in Canada and educating about Canada’s geothermal energy resources. For more information, visit http://www.cangea.ca
The Canadian GeoExchange™ Coalition acts as the industry catalyst to unite private and public sector stakeholders, and to expand the market for ground source heat pumps and geoexchange™ technology in Canada. As the nexus of information, training, certification, standards and public awareness, our mandate is to work with stakeholders to build the necessary infrastructure to foster the growth of the Canadian geoexchange™ industry. For more information, visit http://www.geo-exchange.ca
For inquiries, please contact:
At CGC: Ted Kantrowitz, (514) 807-7559, extension 34
At CanGEA: Craig Dunn, (403) 461-8802
