poster
Energy in Canada's North

Feasibility Study of Enhanced Geothermal Energy Secondary Application for Agricultural Production in Canadian Northern Territories

Wednesday, November 21, 2018 - 16:30 to 19:00 Multiplex Gym (DND)

Author(s)

A.D. Dehghanisanij (Presenting)
University of Waterloo

S.M. Mahbaz
University of Waterloo

M.D. Dusseault
University of Waterloo

In today’s world, the role of energy in social welfare, economic growth, and sustainable development is crucial. In addition, reducing the fossil fuels consumption and using more green and renewable energy sources, combined with energy saving and energy conversion are mandatory in sustainable context. Geothermal energy, as a sustainable and renewable energy source, has certain advantages such as consistency, a massive amount of untapped potential, availability, and an extensive range of possible applications, which make it an interesting and practical solution for meeting the world’s energy needs, particularly in cold weather regions such as northern Canada. Simultaneously, the use of geothermal energy diminishes greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and environmental pollution (especially CO2 emissions). In this paper, the feasibility of using enhanced geothermal energy (EGS) for production of agricultural products as a secondary application in Canada northern territories is investigated. The necessary water temperature to prepare the frosted soil for agricultural production is very lower than the temperature needed for electricity generation or heating/cooling of buildings; hence, geothermal energy systems (both shallow and deep) can supply the required water at the proper temperature range from the output water of systems. Providing the required water of the greenhouses in northern Canada using EGS has several advantages such as reduction of electrical energy use, eliminating transportation costs, creating job, increasing living standard which all leads the society toward a sustainable development.