Post by
BayWall on Dec 11, 2020 5:57am
Geothermal vs wind
Someone mentioned to me the geothermal option for the BC coast area. Geothermal is encouraging for small scale applications. But when need 1500MW or more, wind power combined with hydro backup is still the way to go if don't want nuclear nor more dams. Deep wells are going nearly 3km in a province where horizontal drilling is currently being done to bring up 130C water in commercially viable quantities. It's more expensive than wind and solar, but the revenue stream later more than makes up for the initial costs. A 100MW project is being contemplated. The brine is recirculated to be reheated. Brine also may have lithium to be extracted.---This is a first for Canada and its the beginning of something big. Geothermal energy can create lots of jobs in western Canada and across the country all while helping us get to net zero, notes Seamus ORegan, minister of Natural Resources Canada.--Anyway, I'm looking at future electricity requirements for NW BC and its huge. Generating electricity via natural gas is not perfect. Wind and hydro combo can make their contribution but industry must be committed to electrifying their operations to some meaningful degree.