Energy Mines and Resources
Renewable Energy Resources
Geothermal Energy
Earth's interior contains heat energy or geothermal energy that yields warmth and power we can use with limited environmental impact.
The heat from the earth's core continuously flows outward in the form of hot, liquid rock, (magma). Sometimes magma reaches all the way to the earth’s surface, where we know it as lava. But most often the magma remains below the earth's crust, heating nearby rock and ground water. Some of this hot water travels back up through faults and cracks and reaches the earth's surface as hot springs or geysers, but most of it stays deep underground, trapped in cracks and porous rock known as geothermal reservoirs.
We can drill wells into the geothermal reservoirs to bring hot water to the surface. Geologists, geochemists, drillers and engineers explore and assess areas that contain this geothermal water, to determine where to drill geothermal production wells. Once the hot water or steam travels up the wells to the surface, it can be used to generate electricity in geothermal power plants or for energy saving non-electrical purposes.
Not far under the earth’s surface the temperature is relatively stable compared to the air temperature. For this reason animals and humans have historically built dwellings in caves and below the earth’s surface to get shelter from winter's cold and summer's heat. Modern geothermal heat pumps (GHP’s), take advantage of this stable earth temperature to help keep our indoor temperatures comfortable.
GHP's circulate water or other liquids through pipes buried in the ground in a continuous loop. Depending on the weather, the system can be used for heating or cooling.
Heating: The heat from the earth is transferred through the buried pipes into the circulating liquid and then transferred again into the building.
Cooling: During hot weather, the continually circulating fluid in the pipes transfers heat from the building to the earth, thus helping to cool the building.
Geothermal Heat Pumps are very energy effective. They produce three times as much heat energy as they use.
A study of the Yukon's geothermal springs, conducted in 1976 for Natural Resources Canada, describes 13 geothermal springs in the Yukon, south of Dawson City, and eight more in Northern BC. There are also approximately 18 springs close to the Yukon-NWT border, along the Mackenzie Mountains.
The evidence of volcanic activity in the Yukon suggests that heat energy from hot rocks near the surface of the earth could be harnessed, although currently is known about this potential resource. Areas of the Yukon that geologists cite as warranting further investigation are the Cantung, McArthur Springs and the Whitehorse-Takhini areas.
The City of Whitehorse and the Village of Mayo are using very low grade geothermal energy in the form of warm groundwater, to keep their municipal water systems from freezing in winter.
Mayo
The Energy Solutions Centre (ESC) is working with the town of Mayo to help heat some buildings in the community using geo-thermal technology. The project involves activating two geothermal wells that were drilled in the early 1980’s.
The intent of the project is to reduce Mayo’s dependence on high cost fossil fuels, to prove the long-term viability of converting fossil fuel based systems to heat pump systems, to raise awareness of geothermal technology and its potential in the North and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Project funding comes from the Energy Solutions Centre, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Canadian GeoExchange Coalition, a group made up of federal and utility representatives.
Haines Junction
The Energy Solutions Centre is also working with the Village of Haines Junction to use its geothermal artesian well. The purpose of this project is to use the artesian well water (at a temperature of 16.9ºC) in combination with a heat pump system to warm the Haines Junction Convention Centre.
The project is expected to reduce the amount of fuel oil required to heat the Convention Centre by 94%, or 30,806 litres per year, resulting in environmental benefits that include a reduction in local air pollution and a reduction of 87 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.
Takhini Hot Springs
This commercial tourist attraction pumps 50ºC water from the springs, into an outdoor swimming pool open year-round. Hot water from the springs is also used to heat a portion of the facility's buildings.
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