The Cascade Institute's Geothermal Energy Office in Ottawa (CI-GEO) provides strategic advice and policy leadership to the Canadian and international communities focused on accelerating ultradeep geothermal.
The Office’s core mission is to develop and coordinate a carefully planned Canadian geothermal “innovation ecosystem” that addresses the highest-priority technology gaps facing geothermal and accelerates Canada’s pathway to commercializing geothermal systems.
CI-GEO leverages the expertise and research insights of the Cascade Institute’s Ultradeep Geothermal program to accelerate ultradeep geothermal innovation and commercialization by building coalitions, developing and executing strategies for attracting and de-risking investment, and supporting policy development.
CI-GEO Research & Analysis
Pre-budget recommendations to accelerate the development of Canada’s geothermal industry
Geothermal Energy Office
CI-GEO staff
In response to the Government of Canada’s Fall pre-budget consultations, the Cascade Institute submitted three specific recommendations to accelerate the development of Canada’s geothermal industry.
Artificial Intelligence and Energy Innovation: Submission to NRCAN
Geothermal Energy Office
CI-GEO staff
The Cascade Institute submitted a brief to NRCAN highlighting opportunities and examples of current use of various types of AI in various stages of geothermal power development, including in resource characterization, site selection, drilling, reservoir creation, and operations. Applying AI to geothermal energy can unlock an abundant source of clean, secure, baseload electricity needed to power AI itself. This opens the door to a virtuous cycle akin to the steam engine and coal that sparked the industrial revolution.
Groundwork: Regulatory guidelines for making Canada a geothermal powerhouse
Ultradeep Geothermal program
Emily Smejkal, Princess Sharlynne Cosalan, Stephanie Rose Cortinovis
A report identifying best practices to help Canadian provinces establish effective geothermal regulations and make Canada a global clean energy leader.
AOSTRA: A model for funding geothermal innovation
Ultradeep Geothermal program
Emily Smejkal, Peter Massie, Leighton Gall
A case study of the Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority (AOSTRA) as a model for kickstarting geothermal innovation.
Prospecting for Superhot Rock Energy
Rebecca Pearce et al.
A technology gap analysis for siting and characterizing superhot rock energy resources.
Drilling for Superhot Geothermal Energy: A technology gap analysis
Rebecca Pearce, Tony Pink
A report that reviews state-of-the-art deep geothermal drilling and well-construction technologies, identifies existing technology gaps, and suggests strategies to overcome these gaps.
Ultradeep Geothermal Research and Action Roadmap
Leighton Gall, Dave Lovekin, Rebecca Pearce, Emily Smejkal
A roadmap outlining a plan to advance ultradeep geothermal power to commercial operation in Canada.
Deep Geothermal Superpower: Canada’s potential for a breakthrough in enhanced geothermal systems
Ian Graham, Ellen Quigley, Scott Janzwood, and Thomas Homer-Dixon
An opportunity analysis that makes the case that Canada can and should become the global leader in ultra-deep geothermal electricity production.
Pre-budget recommendations to accelerate the development of Canada’s geothermal industry
Geothermal Energy Office
CI-GEO staff
In response to the Government of Canada’s Fall pre-budget consultations, the Cascade Institute submitted three specific recommendations to accelerate the development of Canada’s geothermal industry.
Artificial Intelligence and Energy Innovation: Submission to NRCAN
Geothermal Energy Office
CI-GEO staff
The Cascade Institute submitted a brief to NRCAN highlighting opportunities and examples of current use of various types of AI in various stages of geothermal power development, including in resource characterization, site selection, drilling, reservoir creation, and operations. Applying AI to geothermal energy can unlock an abundant source of clean, secure, baseload electricity needed to power AI itself. This opens the door to a virtuous cycle akin to the steam engine and coal that sparked the industrial revolution.
Groundwork: Regulatory guidelines for making Canada a geothermal powerhouse
Ultradeep Geothermal program
Emily Smejkal, Princess Sharlynne Cosalan, Stephanie Rose Cortinovis
A report identifying best practices to help Canadian provinces establish effective geothermal regulations and make Canada a global clean energy leader.
AOSTRA: A model for funding geothermal innovation
Ultradeep Geothermal program
Emily Smejkal, Peter Massie, Leighton Gall
A case study of the Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority (AOSTRA) as a model for kickstarting geothermal innovation.
Prospecting for Superhot Rock Energy
Rebecca Pearce et al.
A technology gap analysis for siting and characterizing superhot rock energy resources.
Drilling for Superhot Geothermal Energy: A technology gap analysis
Rebecca Pearce, Tony Pink
A report that reviews state-of-the-art deep geothermal drilling and well-construction technologies, identifies existing technology gaps, and suggests strategies to overcome these gaps.
Ultradeep Geothermal Research and Action Roadmap
Leighton Gall, Dave Lovekin, Rebecca Pearce, Emily Smejkal
A roadmap outlining a plan to advance ultradeep geothermal power to commercial operation in Canada.
Deep Geothermal Superpower: Canada’s potential for a breakthrough in enhanced geothermal systems
Ian Graham, Ellen Quigley, Scott Janzwood, and Thomas Homer-Dixon
An opportunity analysis that makes the case that Canada can and should become the global leader in ultra-deep geothermal electricity production.CI-GEO News & Views
Geothermal belongs in Canada’s industrial strategy
Emily Smejkal and Owen Henshaw
Times Colonist
Geothermal energy can meet domestic energy needs while positioning Canada as a global leader in clean energy services and technology.
How Canada can lead now in geothermal energy innovation
Emily Smejkal
The Future Economy
Canada is uniquely positioned to lead the next-generation geothermal energy boom by leveraging its oil and gas expertise, but it must act now with bold policy, investment, and coordination to seize the trillion-dollar opportunity.
Canada’s hidden heat: How regulations can power a geothermal breakthrough
Emily Smejkal
The National Observer
Provinces should act quickly to harmonize and extend geothermal regulations across the country.
How can Alberta and Ottawa be friends again? It begins with drilling
Peter Massie
The Globe and Mail
Drilling test centres in Alberta and Canada would establish the country as a global leader in geothermal power.
A bellwether for U.S. energy policy: Secretary of Energy Chris Wright’s approach to energy integration
Tim Bibby
Guest Commentary
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright's record has implications for Canada and beyond.
Understanding the policy implications of Canada’s “hidden energy communities”
Julie MacArthur and Emmanuel Ackom
The Hill Times
"Hidden energy communities" are often left out of affordable and reliable clean energy services.
DEEP Earth Energy unveils next-gen geothermal plant near Estevan
Peter Massie
The Energy Mix
DEEP Earth Energy arrives on the Canadian geothermal power scene.
U.S. Department of Energy ARPA-E SUPERHOT program: Cascade Institute reaction
Ultradeep Geothermal program team
Cascade Institute reaction
The U.S. Department of Energy announces a $30M SUPERHOT geothermal program.
Time to dig deep into a strategy for geothermal power
Peter Massie and Emily Smejkal
The Hill Times
Canada's opportunity to become a leader in geothermal power.
IEA Future of Geothermal report: Cascade Institute reaction
Cascade Institute Ultradeep Geothermal program team
Recent technological innovations have dramatically expanded geothermal's potential as a significant contributor to global electricity generation. By 2050, experts project geothermal will emerge as the third-largest source of power growth in the global renewable energy landscape. (PDF).
Breaking new ground: Geothermal in 2024
Peter Massie
Cascade Institute analysis
Technology breakthroughs have given geothermal a completely new value proposition.
Major Cascade Institute funding to power up geothermal energy in Canada
Ultradeep Geothermal program team
Cascade Institute announcement
New funding massively upscales Canada’s R&D efforts in geothermal power.
Deep geothermal superpower: Positioning Canada for a breakthrough in next-generation geothermal systems
Ultradeep Geothermal program team
Cascade Institute announcement
The case for ultradeep geothermal energy and a strategic plan for Canada to capture this technological opportunity.
Canada needs to dig deep to become a world leader in geothermal technology
Rebecca Pearce and Ian Graham
The Globe and Mail
A worldwide race for next-generation geothermal technology has begun, and Canada can still emerge a leader.
A big bet on geothermal could help prevent a climate catastrophe
Thomas Homer-Dixon, Ian Graham, and Ellen Quigley
The Globe and Mail
A government-industry research and development partnership in ultradeep geothermal would be a “moonshot” project that Canadians could rally around.
Geothermal belongs in Canada’s industrial strategy
Emily Smejkal and Owen Henshaw
Times Colonist
Geothermal energy can meet domestic energy needs while positioning Canada as a global leader in clean energy services and technology.
How Canada can lead now in geothermal energy innovation
Emily Smejkal
The Future Economy
Canada is uniquely positioned to lead the next-generation geothermal energy boom by leveraging its oil and gas expertise, but it must act now with bold policy, investment, and coordination to seize the trillion-dollar opportunity.
Canada’s hidden heat: How regulations can power a geothermal breakthrough
Emily Smejkal
The National Observer
Provinces should act quickly to harmonize and extend geothermal regulations across the country.
How can Alberta and Ottawa be friends again? It begins with drilling
Peter Massie
The Globe and Mail
Drilling test centres in Alberta and Canada would establish the country as a global leader in geothermal power.
A bellwether for U.S. energy policy: Secretary of Energy Chris Wright’s approach to energy integration
Tim Bibby
Guest Commentary
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright's record has implications for Canada and beyond.
Understanding the policy implications of Canada’s “hidden energy communities”
Julie MacArthur and Emmanuel Ackom
The Hill Times
"Hidden energy communities" are often left out of affordable and reliable clean energy services.
DEEP Earth Energy unveils next-gen geothermal plant near Estevan
Peter Massie
The Energy Mix
DEEP Earth Energy arrives on the Canadian geothermal power scene.
U.S. Department of Energy ARPA-E SUPERHOT program: Cascade Institute reaction
Ultradeep Geothermal program team
Cascade Institute reaction
The U.S. Department of Energy announces a $30M SUPERHOT geothermal program.
Time to dig deep into a strategy for geothermal power
Peter Massie and Emily Smejkal
The Hill Times
Canada's opportunity to become a leader in geothermal power.
IEA Future of Geothermal report: Cascade Institute reaction
Cascade Institute Ultradeep Geothermal program team
Recent technological innovations have dramatically expanded geothermal's potential as a significant contributor to global electricity generation. By 2050, experts project geothermal will emerge as the third-largest source of power growth in the global renewable energy landscape. (PDF).
Breaking new ground: Geothermal in 2024
Peter Massie
Cascade Institute analysis
Technology breakthroughs have given geothermal a completely new value proposition.
Major Cascade Institute funding to power up geothermal energy in Canada
Ultradeep Geothermal program team
Cascade Institute announcement
New funding massively upscales Canada’s R&D efforts in geothermal power.
Deep geothermal superpower: Positioning Canada for a breakthrough in next-generation geothermal systems
Ultradeep Geothermal program team
Cascade Institute announcement
The case for ultradeep geothermal energy and a strategic plan for Canada to capture this technological opportunity.
Canada needs to dig deep to become a world leader in geothermal technology
Rebecca Pearce and Ian Graham
The Globe and Mail
A worldwide race for next-generation geothermal technology has begun, and Canada can still emerge a leader.
A big bet on geothermal could help prevent a climate catastrophe
Thomas Homer-Dixon, Ian Graham, and Ellen Quigley
The Globe and Mail
A government-industry research and development partnership in ultradeep geothermal would be a “moonshot” project that Canadians could rally around.
