Geothermal Energy in Canada Potential of Canada

Geothermal energy provides one of the cleanest and lowest emission renewable energy resources known. It also has the key benefit of being a stable baseload power supply, making it the ideal for powering electrical grids. Geothermal energy can also be used to meet a diversity of heat demands, from industrial to residential. Although used extensively throughout the world, geothermal energy has not been significantly developed in Canada to date. Despite this, Canada has huge geothermal energy reserves that could play an important role in the transition to a clean energy economy. Recent work has examined historic data to allow a national-scale assessment of high potential geothermal areas in Canada. This presentation will provide an overview what geothermal energy is, where is comes from, and how it can be developed, along with what regions of Canada have the greatest potential to use this renewable energy resource.

Dr. Steve Grasby, bio

Since completion of his Ph.D. at the University of Calgary in 1997, Dr. Grasby has worked at the Geological Survey of Canada on groundwater issues across western and northern Canada. This has included study on the controls on the origin and distribution of thermal springs in Canada, He has led the renewal of geothermal energy research in the Geological Survey of Canada, including a national assessment of geothermal energy potential of Canada. He was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of his research.