Geothermal and Earth Energy

The natural heat of the Earth’s crust represents a source of earth energy and geothermal energy. Among other things, earth energy can be used to heat or cool buildings. With this form of energy, pumps are used to extract heat from underground soil or water to heat a building, or to channel heat back below ground to cool the building. By contrast, geothermal energy refers to a source of steam or hot water that can be used to power turbines or heat buildings directly.

In Canada, earth-based energy is almost exclusively used by geothermal pumps to heat or cool buildings. Yet it is also possible to use geothermal energy to produce electricity if the energy is present at very high temperatures (in excess of 100 degrees Celsius). In Canada, very few geothermal reserves have been identified, although a number of sites in western Canada are potentially interesting for geothermal electricity production.

The Size of the Industry

• The earth energy industry employs about a dozen consultants, who work to determine the technical specifications related to commercial applications. Typically, these are engineers who participate in the design of buildings or heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
• In Canada there are four thermal pump manufacturers and approximately 15 regional networks of distributors.
• In recent years there has been an increase in the number of installers specializing in geothermal heat pumps. For now, there are few jobs in this industry.
• In the earth energy industry, typical employment (with the exception of administrative positions) is as follows, in decreasing order of prevalence:
  
  • Designer or installer (supplier)
  • Manufacturing plant worker
  • Technical sales
  • Engineering consultant

Using Earth Energy and Geothermal Energy

• In Canada, more than 30,000 geothermal heat pumps are installed for residential, commercial, and industrial purposes. Each year this number grows by approximately 1000.
• Users of earth energy systems include schools, stadiums, and other institutions.
• Earth energy systems are among those systems that are taking advantage of the renewable energies targeted by the Government of Canada’s Renewable Energy Deployment Initiative (REDI).
• Earth energy systems consume 25 to 75 percent less electricity than standard heating and air conditioning devices, which means increased energy efficiency for buildings that use this option.
• A Canadian company holds the development rights for a geothermal plant project that is designed to provide up to 100 MW of electricity in British Columbia. This would be the first geothermal plant generating electricity in Canada, and is scheduled to open in 2007.