Alberta’s emerging geothermal and geoenergy sector is creating jobs in Alberta and helping other nations enhance energy security. In 2019, Alberta’s government provided $2 million to help Calgary-based Eavor Technologies Inc. demonstrate the world’s first closed-loop geothermal system. Now, this successful project is ready to cut emissions while powering homes and businesses in Germany.
“This is a made-in-Alberta success story and a testament to our province’s innovative and entrepreneurial spirit. Using innovation and expertise perfected in our oil and gas sector, Eavor is proof that Alberta can, and will, export our energy and expertise as we help power the world. Alberta’s emerging geothermal and geoenergy sector is vitally important. It will create jobs here at home while helping our allies achieve energy security in the years ahead.”
Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas
On Aug. 24, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas Rebecca Schulz joined German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Minister-President of Bavaria Markus Söder and other European dignitaries to celebrate the start of drilling on the first commercial Eavor-Loop™, known as Eavor-Europe™, in Geretsried, Germany. The project is ultimately expected to provide enough electricity to power up to 18,000 homes and enough heat for up to 200,000 homes annually.
“Eavor applauds the Government of Alberta’s recognition and support of geothermal technologies within the recently issued mandate letters and the Alberta Emissions Reduction and Energy Development Plan. We look forward to continued collaboration that advances Alberta’s geothermal opportunity and provincial job creation while promoting Alberta as a responsible energy producer on the global scale.”
John Redfern, president and CEO, Eavor Technologies Inc.
Eavor’s technology is designed to supply an innovative form of geothermal energy that is clean, baseload, dispatchable and capable of being implemented at scale. It is a closed-loop geothermal system where a benign working fluid circulates in an industrial-sized, underground heat exchanger without the need for a pumping system.
The Eavor-Loop™ in Geretsried will supply the entire region with district heating and electricity within the next four years and has the potential to become a game-changer in energy supply.
The delegation to Germany, led by Minister Schulz, is working to promote Alberta as a hub for geothermal and geoenergy technology exports. This is part of the Alberta Emissions Reduction and Energy Development Plan, which will cut global emissions by supporting innovation and technology adoption through the province’s responsible energy sector.