BACKGROUND:
Direct-use Geothermal Resources in British Columbia
​
Tuya Terra Geo Corporation (TT Geo), a BC-based company, working in collaboration with Geothermal Management Company Inc. (GMC) and their respective teams, were retained by Geoscience BC in September 2015 to identify and evaluate Direct-use geothermal energy opportunities for BC communities, providing them with data and an opportunity to potentially lower greenhouse gas emissions and advance economic development through the use of geothermal energy.
​
Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source within the crust of the Earth which can be utilized for the generation of electricity; however, the oldest use has been "direct" use for heat, industrial and therapeutic purposes.
Previous studies of geothermal energy in British Columbia have focused on mapping and evaluating resources for electricity generation. Direct-use geothermal development projects can use lower temperature resources, but the thermal energy, unlike electricity, cannot be transmitted over large distances.
Currently in British Columbia, direct-use geothermal energy is used exclusively for hot springs developments. This study did not evaluate the use of heat pumps for ground based geothermal (geoexchange), a technology that can generally be deployed anywhere, and indeed is in use by BC and across Canada. Worldwide, direct-use geothermal energy is more widely used in heating, agricultural, industrial, commercial, snow clearing and recreational purposes. Direct-use geothermal resources are a potentially underutilized asset in British Columbia. However, with development hurdles for direct-use applications being significantly lower than for electrical applications, there are untapped resources that could potentially be developed.
​
Direct-use geothermal developments can typically utilize lower temperatures waters than required for electrical generation. These lower temperature fluids are more easily attainable with simpler, lower cost exploration strategies in a much shorter time frame than electrical generation development. Additionally, the exploitation of these low temperature geothermal resources can have significant economic benefits for communities. However, communities and local governments may not have access to the expert knowledge required to oversee a geothermal resource exploration program, or the cost of exploration may be a major barrier to wider adoption of Direct-use geothermal energy.
Link to Geoscience BC Report:
OBJECTIVE
​
The purpose of this project was to first identify and evaluate Direct-use geothermal energy opportunities for BC communities that have the potential to reduce green-house gas emissions or be economic development drivers. To do this, a review of various Direct-use development possibilities was undertaken and compiled as applicable to BC. The gathering of detailed community information focused on the 11 sites deemed 'favourable' for electrical generation in the KWL and GeothermEx 2015 report. A list of communities associated with these sites was compiled under the assumption that if there was a resource sufficient for electrical generation, then Direct-use (with its lower hurdles to development) was possible. A total of 63 communities were contacted and provided with information about their nearby resource. In this process, the Project sought to give communities and businesses in BC an understanding of what resources are available and what steps they need take to evaluate these geothermal resources. This study did not evaluate the use of heat pumps for ground based geothermal (geoexchange).
​
​
DELIVERABLES
​
The deliverables for this project include a Report as two sections: Section A, Summary of Findings and Section B, Roadmap, with datafiles as excel spreadsheets and a series of compiled GIS shape files. The Direct-use Geothermal Roadmap embodies the information needed by the communities to assist them in pursuing geothermal projects for economic development and greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) reductions. This document, along with the resource information gathered by KWL and GeothermEx (2015) and updated by ourselves as part of the GDDM, is crucially important in assisting Communities.
Link to Geoscience BC Report:
