Canada: Geothermal Energy has High Potential in British Columbia

Opinion: Don’t let the geothermal energy opportunity go cold (Vancouver Sun)

Geothermal energy — using natural heat from underground to generate electricity or heat — is a proven clean technology with high potential in British Columbia. But our opportunity is in danger of going cold.

Geothermal could play a significant role in a long-term strategy to transition to clean and renewable sources of energy for electricity and heat alongside other rapidly developing sources such as solar, wind and wave power.

This is not the stuff of legend. The U.S. has nearly 4,000 megawatts of geothermal installed. Heat exchange, which is the lowest temperature and simplest geothermal technology, is not uncommon in homes. And SaskPower has plans to deliver 50 per cent of Saskatchewan’s power from renewable sources, including geothermal by 2030. What’s more, B.C. already has many of the skills needed. With some basic training, workers from the oil and gas sectors can also work with geothermal.

There’s more good news. Much of the research to prove the potential for geothermal is already in place because accelerating the development of geothermal is an important part of the work of Geoscience B.C. and others.

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