The completion of a major Geoscience BC research partnership is sparking new interest in geothermal electricity generation in Southwest British Columbia and beyond.
The Garibaldi Geothermal Volcanic Belt Assessment Project has created one of the most comprehensive studies of geothermal potential energy ever conducted at Mount Meager, near Pemberton, as well as focussing on Mount Cayley southwest of Whistler. This major collaboration has included Geoscience BC, the Geological Survey of Canada, seven Canadian universities and the Líl̓wat and S wx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nations.
The research has already helped to attract new investment into Meager Creek Development Corporation's Meager Creek geothermal project, where the company plans to produce hydrogen from green geothermal electricity.
The level of detail gathered about geothermal systems at Mount Meager has allowed for new techniques to be developed and tested there and at Mount Cailey. These assessment techniques can be used to reduce risk and increase efficiency of geothermal exploration projects elsewhere in the Garibaldi Volcanic belt, in Canada and internationally.
More than 50 reports, papers, maps and data files for Mount Meager and Mount Cayley are available for download now from the Geoscience BC website. A further summary and analysis paper is expected to be published in 2025. Additional research papers will also be added to the web page as they are published.
Geothermal energy has the potential to play a significant role in Canada's net-zero emissions future. Unlike wind and solar power, it is not reliant on weather conditions and so can support clean energy systems with a consistent level of power (baseload). Geothermal power generation facilities have relatively small footprints. They also use similar technologies to oil and gas development, so provide opportunities for workers in fossil fuel industries to retrain.
Geological Survey of Canada Research Scientist and Geothermal Canada President Steve Grasby said: "Significant improvements have been made in our understanding of geothermal potential of the Garibaldi Volcanic Belt. The enormous amount of new data collected would not have been possible without the support of Geoscience BC. The publicly available results of this work will hopefully continue to spur new interest in the exploration for renewable geothermal energy in British Columbia as part of the clean energy transition."
Geoscience BC Manager, Energy and Water Randy Hughes said: "This fundamental, innovative and collaborative geothermal research provides the data that industry, communities, Indigenous groups, government and others need to make decisions about investing in clean energy in the region."
Meager Creek Development Corporation (MCDC) President Richard Hawker said: "As we have worked to build the development plan for the MCDC project the quality of the work done by Geoscience BC continually impresses our team. Without the data and reports developed by their team we would never have gotten to the point we are."
What Next?
Geoscience BC is seeking partners for further geothermal research programs in BC.
- Northwest BC Geothermal Energy Potential Assessment
- A fourth phase of the Kootenay Lake Geothermal Project
If you are interested in contributing to these projects with expertise or funding, contact us here
Accessing information
For more information and to access reports, papers, maps and data for this major project, visit the Geoscience BC website project page.
About Geoscience BC
Geoscience BC is a not-for-profit society managing and co-funding independent geoscience research in collaboration with members and partners from industries, governments, communities and Indigenous groups in British Columbia. Our public research informs decisions about critical minerals and metals, cleaner energy, carbon management and water.
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of our partners, including the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation.
Visit geosciencebc.com or follow us @GeoscienceBC to find out more.
For more information, please contact:
Richard Truman
Geoscience BC
604-662-4147 / 778-929-1662
truman@geosciencebc.com
