Supporting Alberta’s energy transition with geothermal energy As society transitions away from
turbine. Once the useful work is
heat intensive processes that would
carbon-intensive processes, such
complete, the brine is reinjected
normally rely on hydrocarbons for
as combusting coal and gas, there
into the earth to be heated up again,
energy. This spring, Alberta No. 1 had
comes a need for more clean and
making the process renewable.
partnered with a local vermicompost
reliable sources of heat and power
Because there is a consistent supply
company to explore sustainable
that can meet our growing energy
of geothermal heat, geothermal
agricultural opportunities supported
demands. While southern Alberta is
power plants can run 24/7, 365 days
by geothermal heat.
known for its long hours of sun and
a year. Earlier this year, Alberta No. 1
windy regions, making it a prime
confirmed geothermal power potential
space for solar and wind energy, these
in the province with its temperature
clean sources are intermittent and
log on a dormant oil and gas well; the
cannot be solely relied upon for our
results returned a temperature of
clean energy future. Therefore, the
118°C, which exceeds minimum power
best-kept secret of our province is
production temperature requirements
the renewable energy resource of the
by almost 20°C.
North: geothermal energy.
The value of geothermal energy
Geothermal energy is a baseload
doesn’t stop at renewable power
(constant), renewable energy source
production. Conventional geothermal
that uses the Earth’s natural heat.
energy projects like Alberta No. 1 can
Conventional geothermal energy
harness the lower-grade heat that is
projects, like Terrapin’s Alberta
left over from the power production
No. 1 project, drills two to four
process and use it directly. Ranging
kilometres into the earth to reach
from 40°C to 80°C, this heat can
high temperature geothermal brine.
be supplied to a district heating/
If hot enough, this brine is pumped to
cooling network and be dispatched
surface and the heat is extracted and
for processes such as greenhouse
used to operate a power generation
growing, crop drying, or any other
Geothermal energy could also help advance our carbon reduction goals. By exporting clean energy to the grid, geothermal power plants would generate carbon offsets. Alberta No. 1 alone will generate 41,000 tonnes of carbon offsets from its electricity and 55,000 tonnes of carbon offsets from its heat, totalling 96,000 tonnes of carbon offsets at full production. This is equal to 20,878 cars being taken off the road. Alberta No. 1 aims to not only make geothermal energy zero-carbon, but carbon negative, by combining energy production with carbon capture and sequestration. On November 4, Alberta No. 1 announced its research partnership with the University of Alberta to investigate capturing and storing carbon in a geothermal reservoir, which will be the first endeavour of its kind globally.
Ranging from 40°C to 80°C, this heat can be supplied to a district heating/cooling network and be dispatched for processes such as greenhouse growing, crop drying, or any other heat intensive processes that would normally rely on hydrocarbons for energy.
Geothermal energy offers triple value to Albertans – reliable power, clean heat, and carbon offsets. To learn more about Alberta No. 1 and how Terrapin develops projects for our clean energy future, please visit terrapingeo.com.
14 ALBERTA SOLAR REVIEW • 2022/23
