Northern geo-thermal potential - 4 locations
April 10, 2012
A number of northern communities have explored geo-thermal heat as a source of energy.
- Haines Junction, Yukon. Yukon Energy carried out a small drilling program in the Jarvis Creek area in 2009. According to YEC the water tested was at 80 degrees C.
- Yellowknife, N.W.T. The City of Yellowknife sees potential for thermal energy from the abandoned Con mine. It has partnered with Corix Industries to invest $60M in the project. However, the voters turned down the borrowing authority in 2011, so the project is in abeyance.
- Mayo, Yukon. The federal, territorial and Na-Cho Nyak Dun First Nation have invested $3M to drill three 120 metre deep wells and to set up a thermal heating system for 40,000 s.f. of government buildings.
- Chena Hot Springs, Alaska. The Chena 400 kW geothermal power plant came online in late July 2006, putting Alaska squarely on the map for new geothermal technologies. Chena Hot Springs is the lowest temperature geothermal resource to be used for commercial power production in the world. In the case of Chena Hot Springs, it appears the water is circulating to a depth of approximately 3000-5000ft and reaching a maximum temperature of 250ºF. Chena is working on an exploration project under the Department of Energy to identify and quantify the deep geothermal resource at Chena Hot Springs.
Commentary
The primary challenge for developing geothermal power when the potential exists is locating, developing, and managing the resource in an economic manner.
Sources
- a)http://blog.yukonenergy.ca/blog/geo-thermal_research_yields_promising_early_results
- b)"Ways the North is getting greener", Up Here Business, March, 2012, p.23.
- c)http://www.yourownpower.com/Power/#Project%20Overview%20...