By Peter Massie (Cascade Institute), Gordon Brasnett (Cascade Institute), and Jotham Peters (Navius Research)
Presented at the EMH Annual Forum 2025
Quick Links
- View the poster
- Explore the results in Tableau
- Read the technical report The Deep Heat Advantage: A techno-economic analysis of enhanced geothermal systems in western and northwestern Canada
Abstract
The Cascade Institute modelled costs for developing Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) to generate electricity at four nominal project locations with representative geothermal gradients in Alberta, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, and Saskatchewan.
First-of-a-kind cost estimates were developed for EGS power projects targeting reservoirs at 3 km, 4 km, 5 km, and 6 km depths under present and future innovation scenarios.
This study fed these estimates into Navius Research’s gTech and IESD energy-economy models to test EGS deployment in each province.
We find that EGS can play a small but meaningful role under present policy and costs. However, with strategic innovation, EGS can play a major role as costs fall, particularly if western Canada is committed to a net-zero grid.
In all cases, deployment of EGS power reduces power prices and expands gross domestic product (GDP).
Connect with Cascade's Deep Geothermal Team
Ready to help kickstart Canada's geothermal future? Cascade's Deep Geothermal Program is working tirelessly to unlock Canada's vast geothermal potential.
Contact Peter Massie:
Director, Geothermal Energy Office (CI-GEO)
Cascade Institute, Royal Roads University
E-mail: massie@cascadeinstitute.org
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