What is Geothermal Energy?

The term "Geothermal Energy" refers to the application of heat generated in the earth's core for direct use (including ground-source heat pumps, also called geoexchange) and for the production of electricity from high temperature water and steam.

Geothermal power (or electricity) is typically sold to an electrical utility, which then sells electricity to consumers at one standard price, regardless of the power source.

Direct use applications include district heating, green house and aquaculture pond heating, agricultural drying, industrial processes, bathing and swimming, and snow melting. Commercial and residential ground-source heat pumps are an example of direct use applications that utilize consistent temperatures (of approximately 10 degrees C) occurring only a few metres below the Earth's surface to offset space heating and cooling costs.

Why use geothermal energy?

It's clean. Unlike combustible fuels (such as coal, oil, and natural gas), the operation of a geothermal energy facility does not result in the emission of greenhouse gases, sulphur or nitrogen oxides, or fine particulates, which contribute to poor air quality and associated health effects, as well as acid rain and global climate change. As such, the development of geothermal energy resources in Canada can help to meet emissions reduction targets like those outlined in the Kyoto Protocol.

Furthermore, the use of closed-loop systems in these operations prevents depletion of subterranean water resources and prevents the release of thermal or chemical pollution into the air or surface water.

It's renewable. Heat is generated deep inside the Earth's core through natural degradation of atoms - a process that has been occurring for billions of years. These reactions will continue to occur and release thermal energy for many more billions of years. Compared to the total amount of heat produced, the amount extracted by geothermal energy facilities is negligibly small and easily replenished.

It's reliable. Unlike wind and solar power, the Earth's heat is always available. Geothermal energy can contribute to the generation of baseload power, meeting electricity needs any time of the day or night and throughout the year.

It's competitive. The direct use can offset heating and cooling costs, while production of electricity from high heat resources is cost-competitive with all other electricity sources, including coal-fired plants. Furthermore, as geothermal doesn't require any fuel, it is not susceptible to fluctuations in the price of oil and gas.

Canadian Geothermal Energy Association (CanGEA)

M.K. Ince and Associates is a member of the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association (CanGEA). CanGEA is a non-profit organization that promotes the responsible, sustainable growth of geothermal energy in Canada. For more information on CanGEA, please visit their webpage at www.cangea.ca. They have recently release a short promotional video entitled "World on Fire". You can view it here.