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F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 1 9
Developments in Green Technology
by Jane Bratun
GREEN TECHNOLOGIES
NEW RESEARCH IDENTIFIES POTENTIAL
GEOTHERMAL PRODUCTION SITES
Two new geothermal research reports
released by Geoscience BC describe a
positive outlook for geothermal energy
production in northeast British Columbia
(BC). Geoscience BC is an independent,
non-profit organization that generates
earth science information in collabora
-
tion with First Nations, local communities,
governments, academia, and the resource
sector. It receives financial support from
the Province of British Columbia.
Geothermal resources may play a signif
-
icant role in the long-term energy strategy
for BC as the province transitions to alter-
native energy sources for electricity and
heat. The reports evaluate locations and
assess the viability for geothermal energy
development. In Techno-Economic assess-
ment of Geothermal Energy Resources in
the Sedimentary Basin in Northeastern
British Columbia, researchers from The
University of Victoria evaluated four areas
favourable for geothermal development.
The sites are at Horn River, Clarke Lake,
Prophet River and Jedney. "No geother
-
mal power plant exists in Canada," said
Kevin Palmer-Wilson, PhD Candidate
in Mechanical Engineering and lead
researcher on the project. "This study has
identified four potential sites and provides
cost estimates for getting power plants up
and running."
For each site, researchers used the area
of known gas pools to estimate geothermal
reservoir areas and to estimate power plant
sizes (proxy power plants). From this, the
Graphic by Jay Moysey
