Moving Geothermal in Canada Forward Catherine Hickson, Ryan Dick, Tiffani Fraser, Steve Grasby, Katie Huang, Jacek Majorowicz, Michel Malo, Kirsten Marcia, Matthew Minnick, Fran Noone, Ronak Patel, Jasmin Raymond, Deb Shewfelt & Jeff Witter Geothermal Resources Council International Program Monday, October 15, 2018, Reno Nevada
Founded in 1974 as the Canadian Geothermal Association by some of Canada’s pioneers in geothermal energy, the Association has been reborn as Geothermal Canada. Building on this early legacy, the renewed organization is focused on providing a venue to discuss technical and academic aspects of the industry providing a forum for research, innovation, and collaboration. Join us! https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
Pan Canadian Society for Geothermal Research, Innovation & Collaboration The objectives of the Society are:
● To advance science and promote geothermal research in Canada ● To promote innovation in Canada in geothermal research ● To foster collaborative investigations between academia, companies and organizations in the field of geothermal research
Current Board of Directors
Katie Huang
Steve Grasby
Jasmin Raymond, Eastern Canada
Tiffany Fraser
Ryan Dick
Ron Yehia, BC
Catherine Hickson Jeff Witter
Ronak Patel
Kirsten Marcia
Grant Ferguson
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
Other Organizations in Canada Industry-oriented lobby group that consults and provides public information on geothermal. Student initiated group; Ryan Libby, Yuliana Proenza and Lena Patsa [NO LONGER ACTIVE]
Geoexchange coalition
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
World Energy Outlook • Increasing energy consumption • Transition toward less GHG BP Energy Outlook 2018
Carbon emissions (Billion TCO2)
Primary consumption (Billion toe)
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
Canada’s Energy Future Energy consumption forecast - Canada National Energy Board (2017) • Actual consumption 11 407 PJ/y • ~0.7 %/y increase
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
2018 : Energy Transition in Progress Fossil Fuels Consumption - National Energy Board (2017)
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
What will be the Future Energy Alternatives? The green economy as a driver of change in Canada.
www.cremtl.qc.ca
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
Geothermal Potential of Canada
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
Canadian Geothermal Energy Budget
Heat pumps
Raymond et al. 2015
• Capacity 1 458 MWt • Use 11 338 TJ/y • 0.4 % of the residential and commercial consumption
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
Why Little Geothermal in the Current Energy Balance in Canada? • Installation cost remains important • Strong competition from other generation sources • (natural gas and hydro)
INRS Research Objective • Reduce cost to move geothermal into the energy transition grrebs.ete.inrs.ca
How to Achieve? 1. Characterize resources 2. Develop new technologies 3. Improve system design and operation https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
Projects in Canada From assessment to development • Western Canada sedimentary basin (BC, Yukon, Alberta, Saskatchewan) • Fault controlled non-volcanic systems (BC) • Volcanic systems (BC) • Northern potential in sedimentary basins (Nunavut, Yukon, NWT) • Crystalline basement (Canadian Shield)
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
Finances and Grants (Federal and Provincial) Emerging Renewable Power Program
• Over $200 million with up to $25 million per project • Minimum requirement to produce 8MWe NET • At least one geothermal project to be funded.
Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) BEST Challenge • ERA funding up to $10 million • One geothermal project has applied
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
Northern Canada Arctic to subarctic climate • Permafrost conditions • High heating loads > 8000 degree-days • Mean annual temperatures of less than zero degrees Celsius
Energy supplied by fossil fuels • To generate electricity. • To heat buildings. • Carbon offset. potential. • Reliable alternative to hydrocarbons. Smith and Burgess, 2004
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
The Power Of Δt (Temperature Differences)
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
Northern Geothermal Potential Research Chair
Heat flow
2
• Resource assessment of northern mines and communities • Adapt technologies to deal with arctic to subarctic climate
1 65
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
Nunavut Geothermal Resource Assessment
Curie point depth Heat flow
• •
Depth to reach Curie temperature ~580 ºC Potential for direct-use applications https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
Yukon Government Initiatives
Yukon’s geothermal potential could be more than 1,700 MW of energy. This is equivalent to 18 times the current energy supplied by Yukon’s renewable electrical system (90 MW).
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
NWT Government Initiatives Northwest Territories • Potential in the northern portions of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin • Adapt technologies to deal with arctic to subarctic climate • Workshop in Yellowknife, November 23 to provide a broad technical overview of the geothermal energy options available in the NWT and Northerners https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
British Columbia Hot sedimentary basins Fault controlled systems Volcanic systems • Current hurdles to development in British Columbia • Inability to obtain a power purchase agreement • Significant hydro resources
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
Curie Point Depth Map of British Columbia • Shallow depth indicates thinner crust
Innovate Geothermal https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
Recent focus on Direct-Use Geothermal Resources in British Columbia Low to moderate temperature resource inventory • 63 communities contacted, primarily in remote areas • Most communities not aware of technologies for direct geothermal use • Roadmap development A
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
Research Opportunity in British Columbia Seven wide diameter wells available for Research • Seven wells drilled between 1980 and 2004 • Well temperatures exceed 250°C • Most show limited permeability • Wells are on a 20 year lease • Owner (Polaris Infrastructure) is open to research options. • Planning session October 13th, to discuss potential opportunities. • Some funding being provided by Geoscience BC A https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
The Prairies Western Canada sedimentary basin • Significant progress in Saskatchewan with the DEEP. • Alberta has regulatory hurdles to overcome. • Underlying questions to address – • How much heat is it possible to recover and at what cost? • Use of inactive oil and gas wells
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
Alberta’s Renewable Energy Alternatives Solar Resource
Wind Resource
Geothermal Resource
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
Municipality of Greenview, Alberta
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
Geothermal Potential – Fox Creek Temperature Map of Fox Creek Area (base on corrected bottom-hole temperature, Peters et al, 2009)
Longtitude (N)
43 y# Hw
•
Direct-use applications for timber drying, space heating and agriculture
Latitude (W) 0 0
3 5
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
Electrical Generation - Tri-Municipal Area • $50 million dollar project; funding applied for under ERPP and ERA • 8 MWe NET production • Direct-use applications for space heating of large industrial buildings. • Potential carbon credits/offsets for large petrochemical companies. •
Po
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan based company (https://www.deepcorp.ca) With stated goals to • harness high quality geothermal resources • to develop 100s of megawatts of baseload power facilities • secured a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) contract with SaskPower (first PPA in Canada issued for a geothermal power facility) https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
East of the Prairies
Smith and Burgess, 2004
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
St. Lawrence Lowlands – 3D Temperature Model Quebec City
Montreal
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/ 1. Resource characterization
Not Just Projects, But Leading Innovators • Miniaturization of sensors, controls and electronics • Mini mass specs and other sensors • Small enough to mount on drones and remote vehicles
• • • • • • • • •
Ultrasensitivty of new instruments Remote controlled vehicles High powered computing Advanced software for 3D analysis New and more sensitive satellites Hyperspectral imaging Rapid infield hydrogeochemisty testing Drilling techniques in permafrost Adaptive technologies for arctic to sub artic conditions.
Rapid field chemistry
CO2 Soil Flux
Low slow flight
multigas
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
Thermally Enhanced Pipe • For ground-coupled heat pumps • 75 % more conductive (0.7 W/mK) • Reduce borehole thermal resistance • Decrease required borehole length (5 – 25 %)
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/ 2. New technology
Geothermal Heat Pump System to Heat the ÉlÊonore Mine
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/ 3. System design
Geothermal Heat Pump System to Heat the Éléonore Mine Energy Balance 8000
Energy needs Energy GSHP
Energy (MWh)
6000
• Groundwater pumped at 299 m3/h and 12 ºC
4000
2000
0
2015
Déc
2016
Déc
2017
Déc
Time (months)
Energy Costs 600000
Propane Propane + GSHP
Cost (CAD)
500000
300000
• ~38% of the heating needs could be supplied with a heat pump • ~500 000 $/y saving (32 %)
200000 100000
2015
Déc
2016
Déc
2017
Déc
Environmental
• ~2 091 tCO2 less (30 %)
Time (months)
Carbon Dioxide Emissions Propane Propane + GSHP
1500
CO2 (tonnes)
Energy
Economic
400000
0
Active mine located under a water reservoir
1000
500
0
2015
Déc
2016
Déc
2017
Déc
Time (months)
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/ 3. System design
Mining, Oil & Gas Sector in Canada • Incredible Earth Science expertise and know-how • Available drilling technologies • Important energy needs • All the ingredients needed to develop geothermal energy
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/
THANKS!! KEEP THE EVOLUTION GOING AND WATCH OUR PROJECTS GROW!
https://www.geothermalcanada.org/