Assessing Our Geothermal Potential
Our multidisciplinary team is committed to understanding and characterizing geothermal potential in Alberta through geoscientific research and subsurface data integration. Over the past few years, we have compiled and reviewed relevant data, identified gaps, and assessed geothermal potential across the province. Using a data-driven mapping approach, we screened formations for temperature, porosity, and aquifers to identify geologically favourable areas for geothermal systems. We evaluated the regional geothermal energy potential of specific geological units estimating gross thermal energy, thermal power potential, and electrical power potential. In addition to mapping, our work includes sampling brines to analyze groundwater chemistry and measuring thermal conductivity (TC) of rock samples, complemented by XRD analyses to predict theoretical TC values, helping us better understand heat sources and pathways.
This multi-year effort culminated in the creation of the Geothermal Atlas of Alberta, a public, web-based GIS tool that serves as a comprehensive repository of geoscience data related to Alberta's geothermal potential. The Atlas supports government, industry, and researchers in evaluating the geothermal viability of various geological units. First released in 2024, the Atlas highlights key formations like the Leduc, Swan Hills / Slave Point, and Granite Wash, with future updates aimed at incorporating additional units as new data becomes available. The most recent update incorporates new regional datasets with a focus on new analyses of the Precambrian basement and includes geomechanical and thermal properties, radiogenic heat production estimates derived from whole-rock geochemical analyses, and Curie point depth estimates using aeromagnetic surveys. Whether you're assessing specific formations or conducting broader geothermal research, the Geothermal Atlas is a valuable resource for advancing renewable energy development in Alberta.
Explore the Geothermal Atlas of Alberta
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