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Deep Geothermal Heating Potential for the Communities of the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin

Author

Listed:
  • Jacek Majorowicz

    (Northern Geothermal Cons, Edmonton, AB T6R2J8, Canada
    Department of Physics, University of Alberta, 11322-89 Ave., Edmonton, AB T6G 2G7, Canada)

  • Stephen E. Grasby

    (Geological Survey of Canada, 3303 33 St NW, Calgary, AB T2L 2A7, Canada)

Abstract

We summarize the feasibility of using geothermal energy from the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB) to support communities with populations >3000 people, including those in northeastern British Columbia, southwestern part of Northwest Territories (NWT), southern Saskatchewan, and southeastern Manitoba, along with previously studied communities in Alberta. The geothermal energy potential of the WCSB is largely determined by the basin’s geometry; the sediments start at 0 m thickness adjacent to the Canadian shield in the east and thicken to >6 km to the west, and over 3 km in the Williston sub-basin to the south. Direct heat use is most promising in the western and southern parts of the WCSB where sediment thickness exceeds 2–3 km. Geothermal potential is also dependent on the local geothermal gradient. Aquifers suitable for heating systems occur in western-northwestern Alberta, northeastern British Columbia, and southwestern Saskatchewan. Electrical power production is limited to the deepest parts of the WCSB, where aquifers >120 °C and fluid production rates >80 kg/s occur (southwestern Northwest Territories, northwestern Alberta, northeastern British Columbia, and southeastern Saskatchewan. For the western regions with the thickest sediments, the foreland basin east of the Rocky Mountains, estimates indicate that geothermal power up to 2 MW el. (electrical), and up to 10 times higher for heating in MW th. (thermal), are possible.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacek Majorowicz & Stephen E. Grasby, 2021. "Deep Geothermal Heating Potential for the Communities of the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-37, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:3:p:706-:d:489835
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Simon Weides & Jacek Majorowicz, 2014. "Implications of Spatial Variability in Heat Flow for Geothermal Resource Evaluation in Large Foreland Basins: The Case of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin," Energies, MDPI, vol. 7(4), pages 1-22, April.
    2. Palmer-Wilson, K. & Banks, J. & Walsh, W. & Robertson, B., 2018. "Sedimentary basin geothermal favourability mapping and power generation assessments," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 1087-1100.
    3. Majorowicz, Jacek & Moore, Michal, 2014. "The feasibility and potential of geothermal heat in the deep Alberta foreland basin-Canada for CO2 savings," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 541-549.
    4. Thorsten Agemar & Josef Weber & Rüdiger Schulz, 2014. "Deep Geothermal Energy Production in Germany," Energies, MDPI, vol. 7(7), pages 1-20, July.
    5. Majorowicz, Jacek & Grasby, Stephen E., 2019. "Deep geothermal energy in Canadian sedimentary basins VS. Fossils based energy we try to replace – Exergy [KJ/KG] compared," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 259-277.
    6. Kapil, Ankur & Bulatov, Igor & Smith, Robin & Kim, Jin-Kuk, 2012. "Process integration of low grade heat in process industry with district heating networks," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 44(1), pages 11-19.
    7. Paul L. Younger, 2015. "Geothermal Energy: Delivering on the Global Potential," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-18, October.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Stefano Mazzoli, 2022. "Geothermal Energy and Structural Geology," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-3, October.
    3. R.V., Rohit & R., Vipin Raj & Kiplangat, Dennis C. & R., Veena & Jose, Rajan & Pradeepkumar, A.P. & Kumar, K. Satheesh, 2023. "Tracing the evolution and charting the future of geothermal energy research and development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).

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