A retired Dalhousie University professor says a community in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality could be a hub for producing green energy. Larry Hughes and a former student have released a paper outlining the possibility of developing thermal energy in Glace Bay from idle mines.

Canada has the ingredients to be a leader in the geothermal energy industry, a report from RBC suggests, but needs a unified national strategy and support for young companies to tap into the opportunity.

1. A mini drill that retrofits old buildings with green energy

Just two metres tall, the compact tool can drill boreholes from the lowest level of a parking garage.

Maritime Geothermal Ltd., manufacturer of the Nordic heat pump brand, receives $1.6 million to expand its Petitcodiac, N.B., facility. With this expansion, the facility will add 15,000 sq. ft., bringing the total to 45,000 sq. ft. This expansion will help meet the growing demand for Canadian geothermal and air-source heat pump solutions, according to the press release.

Fund invests in projects that help the environment or Indigenous people. Previous investments have included capital sent to First Nations or Indigenous social enterprises to retrofit homes and to make energy use more efficient by installing new geothermal units.

"Kenya's victory to host WGC 2029 is a proud testament to our leadership in geothermal energy and Africa's rising global stature. I look forward to participating in the handover ceremony during the WGC 2026 in Calgary, Canada," said Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wanday.

While Canada possesses world-class subsurface expertise, hot geothermal gradients spanning western and northwestern regions, and companies like Eavor, DEEP Earth Energy, and Tu Deh-Kah Geothermal, domestic deployment lags dramatically. Canada currently generates less than six megawatts (MW) of geothermal power, representing 0.004% of the country’s installed capacity.

Diverso Energy, the leading Canadian provider of geothermal energy infrastructure continues to build momentum across the Greater Toronto Area, partnering with many of the region's top real estate developers on high-profile projects that illustrate the rapid adoption of geothermal as a new industry standard for heating and cooling buildings.

The province says it’s having discussions again on the potential for geothermal energy in the Sussex area after a local entrepreneur revived interest in the proposal.