The federal government is investing in geothermal energy planning and a suite of clean technology projects aimed at advancing carbon capture, renewable energy and grid modernization across Canada.
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Tim Hodgson, announced $468,000 in funding through Natural Resources Canada’s Energy Innovation Program to support the development of the Canadian Deep Geothermal Roadmap, the country’s first national strategy for advancing deep geothermal energy resources.
Led by the Canadian Deep Geothermal Coalition (CDGC), with the Cascade Institute serving as project secretariat, the initiative will bring together industry, researchers, Indigenous partners and governments to identify technology opportunities and research priorities needed to accelerate geothermal development in Canada.
BC Hydro has identified 16 prospective geothermal sites in the province, with the six most likely prospects having an estimated geothermal potential of over 1,000 MW collectively.
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“Canada’s clean energy future relies on the talent and innovation of Canadian researchers, businesses and industry leaders, and British Columbia is leading the way,” Hodgson said in a statement.
Deep geothermal systems harness heat from beneath the Earth’s surface to provide reliable, low-carbon electricity and heating. While the highest-temperature geothermal resources are found in British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon and the Northwest Territories, additional research and resource mapping are needed to reduce exploration risks and support future regulatory frameworks.
Natural Resources Canada said next-generation geothermal technologies could expand the availability of geothermal energy across more regions of the country while leveraging Canada’s expertise in drilling and subsurface engineering. The sector also has the potential to create thousands of jobs and strengthen long-term energy security.
The geothermal funding announcement was part of a broader $28.9-million investment in 12 clean energy projects through the Energy Innovation Program. The funding package includes $16.9 million for carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) projects, $9.2 million for renewable energy initiatives and $2.8 million for smart grid technologies.
“Canada is scaling up clean energy while strengthening our electricity grid and responsibly growing our conventional energy industry,” Hodgson said.
Among the recipients is the Petroleum Technology Research Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan, which will receive $4.8 million to study the behaviour of carbon dioxide stored in deep geological formations. The project includes drilling a new test well and collecting core samples, fluid samples and well log data to improve understanding of how CO₂ plumes move underground.
Federal officials say the work will help reduce the technical, environmental and financial risks associated with large-scale geological carbon storage projects and regional storage hubs.
Another recipient, Kingston-based CO₂L Technologies Inc., received $580,000 to scale up an electrochemical system capable of converting captured carbon dioxide into commercially useful products, including formate salts, formic acid and desiccants.
The resulting products have applications in industries ranging from cement manufacturing and de-icing to agriculture, chemical production and humidity control.
