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By rdnewsNOW staff

Provincial Politics

Alberta innovation aims to help power Germany, say government officials

Aug 24, 2023 | 4:20 PM

With early support from Alberta’s government, Calgary-based Eavor Technologies is now set to help Germany cut emissions and power homes.

That according to provincial government officials who say Alberta’s emerging geothermal and geoenergy sector is creating jobs in Alberta and helping other nations enhance energy security. In 2019, officials say Alberta’s government provided $2 million to help Calgary-based Eavor Technologies Inc. demonstrate the world’s first closed-loop geothermal system. Now, this successful project is said to be ready to cut emissions while powering homes and businesses in Germany.

“This is a made-in-Alberta success story and a testament to our province’s innovative and entrepreneurial spirit,” says Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas. “Using innovation and expertise perfected in our oil and gas sector, Eavor is proof that Alberta can, and will, export our energy and expertise as we help power the world. Alberta’s emerging geothermal and geoenergy sector is vitally important.”

“It will create jobs here at home while helping our allies achieve energy security in the years ahead,” adds Schultz.

On Aug. 24, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas Rebecca Schulz joined German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Minister-President of Bavaria Markus Söder and other European dignitaries to celebrate the start of drilling on the first commercial Eavor-Loop™, known as Eavor-Europe™, in Geretsried, Germany. According to provincial officials, the project is ultimately expected to provide enough electricity to power up to 18,000 homes and enough heat for up to 200,000 homes annually.

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“Eavor applauds the Government of Alberta’s recognition and support of geothermal technologies within the recently issued mandate letters and the Alberta Emissions Reduction and Energy Development Plan. We look forward to continued collaboration that advances Alberta’s geothermal opportunity and provincial job creation while promoting Alberta as a responsible energy producer on the global scale,” says John Redfern, president and CEO, Eavor Technologies Inc.

Alberta government officials say Eavor’s technology is designed to supply an innovative form of geothermal energy that is clean, baseload, dispatchable and capable of being implemented at scale. It is described as a closed-loop geothermal system where a benign working fluid circulates in an industrial-sized, underground heat exchanger without the need for a pumping system.

Provincial officials say the Eavor-Loop™ in Geretsried is expected to supply the entire region with district heating and electricity within the next four years and has the potential to become a game-changer in energy supply.

According to the Alberta government, the delegation to Germany, led by Minister Schulz, is working to promote Alberta as a hub for geothermal and geoenergy technology exports. This is said to be part of the Alberta Emissions Reduction and Energy Development Plan, which is hoped to cut global emissions by supporting innovation and technology adoption through the province’s responsible energy sector.

Alberta government quick facts

• The Eavor-Loop™ is similar to an underground heat exchanger, independently circulating a heat medium in the deep rock. Thermal water is not required. This provides potential advantages over traditional hydrothermal geothermal energy.
• In 2019, Alberta’s government provided Eavor Technologies with $1 million in funding through Emissions Reduction Alberta and $1 million in funding through Alberta Innovates.
• Two of the largest drilling rigs in Europe are currently simultaneously drilling the Eavor Loop.
• The first loop is targeted for completion in October 2024, with commercialization to follow almost immediately. The fourth loop will be completed in August 2026, when Eavor-Europe™ will begin its full-scale operation.
• Over the past two years, Eavor has added 45 full-time employees to its provincial and international offices, bringing the total number of employees to 104.