Geothermal Power
High-temperature hydrothermal energy has been used for electric power generation since 1909, and is presently used in over 20 countries around the world.
Power generation requires a high-temperature geothermal resource, in the form of steam or hot water reservoirs with temperatures higher than 170 C. These types of geothermal resource are generally limited to recent volcanic terranes, such as those found near tectonic plate boundaries (west coast of North America, Iceland, New Zealand, Japan). Energy, in form of steam from high temperature geothermal reservoirs situated close to the surface (500m – 2,000m), is transformed into electricity by steam-driven turbines – similar to oil and gas generated power.
Although Canada does not currently have an operating geothermal energy power plant, there have been extensive studies at Mount Meager, along the Lillooet River, north of Whistler, B.C.. The BC Ministry of Energy and Mines map shows areas around BC that have varying degrees of geothermal energy potential. Low hydro-electric power and fossil fuel prices have reduced the economic incentive to develop the resource; however, there has been recent renewed interest in the Mount Meager Area.
