The Canadian Geothermal Energy Association (CanGEA) congratulated the Geological Survey of Canada for completing the report earlier this summer. The report confirms that "geothermal energy, as a renewable energy source, not only provides a clean and renewable option for electricity generation around the clock, but also efficient and competitive heating options for Canadians all over Canada", said Alexander Richter, Director of the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association.
In its key findings, the report highlights "enormous geothermal energy resources that could supply the country with a renewable and clean source of power", and with the high capacity factor makes it a "particularly attractive as a renewable base load energy supply" for Canada.
The report shows that geothermal energy potential is broadly distributed across Canada, however, there is only sufficient data to characterise geothermal potential for 40% of Canada's landmass.
The report’s authors calculate that Canada's in-place geothermal power exceeds one million times Canada's current electrical consumption, although only a fraction of this can likely be produced.
Remote northern communities could be the first to benefit from geothermal development in Canada, and the country has significant potential for the development of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), with as few as a 100 projects meeting a significant fraction of Canada's base load energy needs.
Research on decreasing installation costs could make further exploitation of abundant low- temperature geothermal resources feasible, with geothermal installations having the potential to displace other more costly and environmentally damaging technologies. Environmental impacts of geothermal development are relatively minor compared to other energy developments, however there are still key issues to be addressed, warns the report.
Replace 10 nuclear plants
CanGEA sees this report as a confirmation of its own findings that the expected resource potential of Canada, electricity generated by geothermal energy could replace approximately 10 nuclear power plants and provide up to 10% of Canada's current total electricity generation. It could provide more than 9,000 permanent jobs and approximately 30,000 temporary jobs in manufacturing and construction. The industry represents a $25 billion market opportunity for companies willing to participate in the growth of the industry, despite current development being scarce and small scale.
Canadian developers, technology and service firms are active globally and represent a strong share of development activities in the US, but also in South America, Europe, Australasia and elsewhere.
In its recently released "Technology Roadmap for Geothermal Heat and Power", the International Energy Agency (IEA) also highlighted the "importance of geothermal energy in the global efforts of reducing carbon emissions, using a sustainable and reliable source of energy that is available all over the world, and does not fluctuate with the weather or season", said Nobuoa Tanaka, Executive Direct at the IEA.
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