2021 Geothermal Rising Student Scholarships

Geothermal Rising (GR) is pleased to announce the availability of the 2021 GR Scholarship Awards.

To qualify for any of these awards a student must be a GR member (student memberships are only $20 per year). Selection of recipients will be based upon a variety of factors, including the individual’s academic record, student activities, geothermal industry experience, and career goals.

IRENA report now available: "Integrating low-temperature renewables in district energy systems: Guidelines for policy makers”.

This report is now published and can be accessed on the IRENA website. It was developed in collaboration with Aalborg University and with the support of an Advisory Group of District Heating and Cooling Experts, drawn from the constituency of the GGA and other institutions. It provides guidelines to policy makers at the national and local level, urban planners, district heating and cooling utilities, etc. on the options and available tools for facilitating the integration of low temperature renewable energy resources, including geothermal energy, into new and existing district heating and cooling networks and buildings.

The key topics addressed in the report include strategic planning for heating and cooling; technical challenges and solutions on the integration of renewables into existing or new buildings and networks; and enabling regulatory conditions, business models, and financing.

GreenFire Energy Inc. and Mitsui Oil Exploration Co., Ltd. Enter Agreement to Perform a Technoeconomic Assessment of a Geothermal Resource

SAN FRANCISCO, California – April 6, 2021 – US-based GreenFire Energy Inc. and Japanese Mitsui Oil Exploration Co., Ltd. (MOECO) today announced that they have entered an agreement for GreenFire Energy to design and assist MOECO in performing a demonstration and testing of one of GreenFire Energy’s closed-loop geothermal solutions at a geothermal resource in Japan. The goals are to demonstrate substantial heat recovery from an exploratory well which has already been drilled but cannot be produced by conventional geothermal technology and to assess the technoeconomic feasibility of developing the resource with new technology to create a large-scale geothermal power production facility. MOECO is an oil and gas exploration, development, and production company that is part of the Mitsui Group. The company has been focused on geothermal energy as an important potential source of renewable energy in Japan and other areas.

SFU Experts say BC could do more to support the development of geothermal resources

Researchers at Simon Fraser University’s Clean Energy Research Group (CERG) have calculated the estimated future energy demand and determined that the Site C dam project would not be adequate. In a new working paper, the CERG, notes that B.C. sits on the Pacific Rim Ring of Fire, which means that BC and Alberta have abundant geothermal resources that could fulfill future energy demand.

GreenFire Energy Inc., EDC Collaborate to Generate Power from Idle Geothermal Well

SAN FRANCISCO, California – March 24, 2021 – GreenFire Energy Inc. today announced that it has entered into an agreement with world geothermal leader Energy Development Corporation (EDC) to perform a commercial retrofit that will restore and generate steam from an idle geothermal well in its Mahanagdong geothermal facility located in Leyte, Philippines.

The idle geothermal well has not been usable due to the high level of non-condensable gases produced from the well when flowing. The heat mining system will correct this and meet its surface system pressure requirements once it is installed and commissioned in 4Q 2021. The data and experience gathered with the surface project are part of the collaborative efforts to evaluate the feasibility of using Greenfire GreenLoop™ technology in other opportunity wells of EDC.

GeoConvention 2021 Call for Abstracts

Building on the 2020 success, GeoConvention 2021 will have a session on geothermal projects in Canada and related technical aspects. GeoConvention 2021 will be all virtual (pre-recorded presentations).

The submission deadline for abstracts is April 16th

Final abstracts may be modified until May 10th.

Presentations will be 20 min with 5 min for Q&A.

We look forward to this opportunity to network, share knowledge and showcase the tremendous opportunity that geothermal represents for Canada!

Learn more

Co-Chairs:
Sochi Iwuoha, PhD, PGeo | sochi.iwuoha@ucalgary.ca
Yannick Champollion, PEng | yannick.champollion@gmail.com

Saskatchewan, Canada-based DEEP Earth Energy Production Corp. Geothermal Project Ready for Final Feasibility Engineering

DEEP Earth Energy Production Corp. (the “Corporation” or “DEEP”) is pleased to announce that it has successfully completed Canada’s first large volume production and injection test on its 100% owned geothermal power project. This test was required to acquire the reservoir data needed to finalize the well design for Canada’s first 20MW commercial geothermal power facility. DEEP forecasts tangible capacity for significant scale up. Supported by Natural Resources Canada, this technical achievement reinforces that DEEP is positioned to help Canadians meet our climate obligations under the Paris Agreement as well as reach the new policy goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. By addressing concerns about climate change and creating new clean-tech jobs, DEEP’s leadership is committed to serving Canada’s national interest. Previous flow results from this project were reported in November 2020 news.

Government of Canada Invests $40.5 Million for Indigenous-Led Clarke Lake Development Project

On March 12, 2021, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Seamus O’Regan Jr., announced the investment of over $40.5 million in federal funds to the Clarke Lake Geothermal Development Project. This includes $38.5 million from Natural Resources Canada’s Emerging Renewable Power Program, which has previously contributed to the Alberta No. 1 project south of Grande Prairie, as well as the DEEP project in Saskatchewan.

Alberta No. 1 Temperature Log Confirms Geothermal Power Generation Potential in Alberta

March 11, 2021 (Edmonton, AB) – No. 1 Geothermal LP is pleased to announce that its recently completed detailed temperature log returned a bottom hole temperature of 118°C. Conducted on a SECURE ENERGY well south of Grande Prairie, this test confirms that the Alberta No. 1 project location has the required temperature to effectively generate geothermal power. The Alberta No. 1 project expects to be providing clean heat and power to Alberta’s energy mix by 2024.

Alberta Seeks $30 Billion to Reduce Emissions by 30 Mega Tonnes by 2030

The Government of Alberta is planning a $30 billion carbon reduction plan ahead of the Climate Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C. on April 22. The province is asking Ottawa to pay for it over the next 10 years, starting by including it in next year’s federal budget.