Advancements made in geothermal energy are among the many hot environmental topics of today. According to Saskatchewan's Ministry of Environment, geothermal energy is described as the recovery of heat from hot water in rocks deep beneath the earth's surface. This heat can be generated as steam energy for electricity, which would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In the Estevan region of the province, there is a formation of rocks, called the Deadwood Formation, that contains water that can be used for the purpose of producing a low-carbon energy source. The water in this area is measured at a temperature of close to 105 C and can be pumped to the Earth's surface to heat homes and other larger buildings.
According to the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association, there are two methods of producing electricity from geothermal energy. The first method, known as flash geothermal, is used when the geothermal sources are higher than temperatures of 180 C. Once the water, at the high temperature and a high pressure, reaches the surface and reaches a low pressure chamber, it flashes into steam, which then turns the turbines, producing electricity.
The second method is the one used here in southern Saskatchewan at the Geothermal Test Well and is called binary geothermal. This method is more common for lower temperatures. In this case, the water is pumped up to the surface and into a heat exchanger. It's then combined with a working fluid and brought to a boiling point at a lower temperature. This process produces enough pressure to drive a turbine and, therefore, generates electricity. All water that is brought to the earth's surface is re-injected, and the working fluid is brought back to its liquid form so that the process can be repeated. This method produces no emissions and is therefore easier on the environment than traditional methods such as coal-powered plants.
The binary geothermal method is a sustainable and reliable energy resource that is not subject to the volatility of world markets. The price for the electricity should remain stable and the availability of the water under the surface is long term. However, energy consultant Mark Bigland-Pritchard points out that the electricity used to power the heat pumps comes from the current coal grid, therefore giving off carbon emissions.
Bigland-Pritchard also said that there are some logistical problems associated with utilizing geothermal energy that should be looked at before considering it as a viable alternative. Our climate with its cold winters and hot summers means that we are pulling more heat in winter and not putting that heat back in. In time, this will cause the ground temperature to decrease. Also, this type of energy is not transportable and the cost upfront for developing new projects is very significant, especially for individual homes.
Bigland-Pritchard suggested that geothermal energy would be more effective as a heating source if used on a larger scale, such as a district heating system or as an alternative to propane in a rural setting.
"People think a lot about heating systems, but not as much about changing their heating requirements," he explained. He went on to say that presently, the typical Saskatchewan home produces less emissions than one that runs on geothermal energy. Ensuring that your home is wellinsulated and energy-efficient will save you more money in the years to come.
If you would like more information about alternate energy sources like geothermal energy, contact the Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources or check out these websites: www.cangea.ca and www.environment.gov.sk.ca/gogreen.