Industry, Researchers Begin Shallow Geothermal Energy Mapping Initiative Quebec institute, Canada's association, and SNC-Lavalin partner for new industry tool September 6th 2017 (Montréal) - The Canadian GeoExchange Coalition (CGC) announced today (9/6) that work has begun to create a detailed resource map of ground thermal conductivity at depths up to 200 meters (650 ft) in one of Canada's most densely populated areas. The project team at Quebec's Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) is applying original algorithms to vertical geothermal borehole data reported under CGC System Certification, with support from engineering firm SNC-Lavalin and a grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
"Our team at INRS has been working on this concept steadily and quietly over the past year" stated Dr. Jasmin Raymond, Professor and Principal Investigator at the INRS Eau Terre Environnement Research Centre. "The intention is, resources permitting, to apply tested geostatistical simulations and anticipate ground properties to better design geothermal heat pump systems in all jurisdictions where significant numbers of vertical boreholes are or have been reported via CGC System Certification."
"The new data will facilitate prefeasibility studies for geothermal heat pump systems," said Guillaume Comeau, hydrogeologist. "SNC-Lavalin currently conducts energy efficiency projects for clients with large operations globally. The ultimate goal is to help engineers recommend ground heat exchangers for clients seeking significant energy savings in their commercial, institutional and industrial applications."
The project will use interpolation to produce ground thermal conductivity estimates at a range of depths, between boreholes, in an area covering the Montréal - Québec City corridor. The final product will be made available to researchers and potentially incorporated in the industry's heat pump system design tool at www.geoanalyser.com.
"We live in an age defined by data, and our industry must and will lead from the front" said Ted Kantrowitz, CEO of CGC. "Hundreds of CGC-Qualified companies have contributed their time and the data required to build up our industry's database, the world's largest on geothermal heat pump technology. Credit goes to them; CGC will continue to seek and welcome partners to help apply this data and create new industry tools."
The Canadian GeoExchange Coalition is Canada's industry association for renewable and efficient geothermal heat pump technology. CGC serves as the industry's nexus for information, training, certification, standards, discussion, and representation. More information is at www.geoexchange.ca.
Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) is a graduate-level research and training university and ranks first in Canada for research intensity (average funding per professor). INRS brings together some 150 professors and close to 700 students and postdoctoral fellows at its four centres in Montreal, Quebec City, Laval, and Varennes. Its basic research is essential to the advancement of science in Quebec and internationally, and its research teams play a key role in the development of concrete solutions to the problems faced by our society. www.inrs.ca.
Founded in 1911, SNC-Lavalin is a global fully integrated professional services and project management company and a major player in the ownership of infrastructure. From offices around the world, SNC-Lavalin's employees are proud to build what matters. Our teams provide comprehensive end-to-end project solutions - including capital investment, consulting, design, engineering, construction, sustaining capital and operations and maintenance - to clients in oil and gas, mining and metallurgy, infrastructure and power. On July 3, 2017, SNC-Lavalin acquired Atkins, one of the world's most respected design, engineering and project management consultancies. www.snclavalin.com
Contact
Nisha@geoexchange.ca or (514) 807 - 7559
Gisele.Bolduc@inrs.ca or (418) 654 - 3817
Louis-Antoine.paquin@snclavalin.com
or (514) 393-8000, ext. 54772
November 5, 2024
