Geothermal

From ClimateNetworkWiki

Overview

How it works

Resources

Heat Pumps

Technical / Business Interest

Arthur D. Little Inc. 1999 Development of Geo-Exchange System Business Models Final Report (Prepared for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and U.S. Department of Energy) • Explains how additional geo-exchange heat pumps can be incorporated in a successful business strategy. As well as how income from heat pumps could be derived from contracts for maintenance and operating services, and leasing and financing services, which could in the end provide higher profit margins than traditional commodity or equipment sales.

Natural Resources Canada, Heating and Cooling with a Heat Pump, December 2004 < http://www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/publications/infosource/pub/home/heating-heat-pump/booklet.pdf> • This is a fantastic report put together by Natural resources Canada which walks the reader through all aspects of installing, maintaining and operating both air and ground sourced heat pump systems. It also includes information on operating costs, life expectancies, warranties and many other practical considerations.

Peartree Solutions. 2003. Situation analysis of the knowledge, competencies, and skill requirements of jobs in renewable energy technologies in Canada, prepared for Industry Canada. Ottawa < http://www.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/rei-ier.nsf/en/nz00059e.html> • Highlights the possibility for non-linear growth in the renewable energy sector after a critical mass has been achieved; thus triggering proper economies of scale.

Pro Star Mechanical Technologies Ltd., Victoria, BC, Copyright © 2008 <http://prostar-mechanical.com/> • A local installer and system designer for ground and air source heat pumps. Located on Vancouver Island they offer good information about local funding, installation types and feasibility, as well as displaying locally available technology. They provide a financing scheme through TD bank and would likely be the best source for information concerning actual capital costs and feasibility of implementing heat pumps throughout the CRD.

Rebates

“Efficiency Incentive Program.” LiveSmart BC. Ministry of Energy Mines and Petroleum Resources. 12 Oct. 2008 <http://www.gov.bc.ca/empr/down/livesmartbc.pdf>. --Data source: chart detailing provincial and federal rebates for various alternative energy systems for interior/rural BC and South Coastal Regions.

NextEnergy. 2008. NextEnergy Incorp. 11 Oct. 2008 <http://www.nextenergy.ca/gov-grants.html>. --Lays out federal and provincial grants for geoexchange systems, and provides links to appropriate government websites. Provides case studies for residential homes, detailing exact heat pump models and configurations used.

General Policy

Argyle, Nancy. “GeoExchange Energy SWOT Analysis: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.” GeoExchangeBC. June 2005. 12 Oct. 2008. <http://www.geoexchangebc.ca/pdf/SWOT.pdf>. --Overview of market limitations, emission advantages of geoexchange, prospects for the next decade, and policy threats. List format: general but makes astute points that should guide future research into policy issues.

Bailie, Horne, Peters, Taylor, Weis, Cobb, and Zarowny, Economic Instruments for On-site Renewable Energy Applications in the Residential/Farm Sector, The Pembina Institute - July 2007 < http://pubs.pembina.org/reports/Econ_Instru_Res_RE_03-07.pdf> • This is a great paper from the Pembina Institute which studies the application of renewable energy systems in residential and farm sectors. It assesses the potential for various technologies to be implemented across Canada.

Compass Resource Management Ltd. and MK Jaccard & Associates. “Sustainable Energy Technology and Resource Assessment for Greater Vancouver.” Greater Vancouver Regional District. 25 Feb, 2005. pgs 28-58. 13 Oct. 2008 <http://www.geoexchangebc.ca/pdf/FullReport.pdf>. --Highly useful data comparing cost and energy use of 3 residential archetypes and 2 commerical archetypes with different pump efficiencies. Useful discussion of retrofitting complications (transition of refrigerants from chlorofluorocarbons to hyrdoflurocarbons, duct sized, etc). Considers reduction in maintenance costs from conventional systems, as well as policy restraints.

GeoExchange BC, The Sustainable Alternative, Copyright © 2007 <http://www.geoexchangebc.ca/index.aspx> • GeoExchange BC is a “non-profit, industry driven association of public and private interests.” Their focus is on providing information, education, training, certification and resources for the heat pump

Hanova, J., Dowlatabadi, H., and Mueller, L., Ground Source Heat Pump Systems in Canada – Economics and GHG Reduction Potential, May 2007, <http://www.rff.org/documents/RFF-DP-07-18.pdf> - This report discusses the fact that from province to province there is a lot of variability as the potential for heat pump technology. The economic viability of a project depends on the price of energy and the potential GHG reductions depend on the fuel type being replaced. Both of these factors have significance for BC. industry.

Harris, Nitya. “Sustainable Energy: Groundsource Heat.” BC Sustainable Energy Association. 12 Oct. 2008 <http://www.bcsea.org/sustainableenergy/Groundsourceheat.asp>. -- Gives overview of open and closed loop systems, general cost considerations, and argues for policy changes in the BC Building Code, city planning, 100% tax credits, and utility loan financing. Useful for broad overview and as potential source of contacts.

Hoshino, Phyllis A., Market Transformation of Ground-Coupled Heat Pump Systems in Canada, 7th International Energy Agency Conference on Heat Pump Technologies, Beijing China, 19-22 May 2002, Session 7 <http://www.geothermie.de/egec-geothernet/hoshino.pdf> • This paper describes the factors that are helping to transform the Canadian market for ground-sourced heat pump technology. It highlights in detail how Natural Resources Canada is trying to provide the impetus necessary to move GSHP systems into the mainstream HVAC market.

Regulations

Canadian GeoExchange Coalition. 2008. 13 Oct. 2008. <http://www.geoexchange.caen/accreditation_program_description_p34.php>. --Broad overview of program description for accreditations and certifications (namely the Global Quality GeoExchange Program). Not a detailed website but good to know that the organization exists and what their goals are as it’s a model potentially useful to governments.

VEL Engineering and Hemmera Energy Inc. “GeoExchange Energy Systems Professional Design Guidelines” GeoExchange BC. Aug 2004. 13 Oct. 2008 < http://www.geoexchangebc.c /pdf/ahsrae_april292005.pdf >. --Detailed consideration of technical suitability factors affecting successful system applications (climate, geology, site setting, system configuration). Useful analysis of design fundamentals. Site would be useful for comparing feasibility of different system models.

Financing

“Local Authorities and Renewable Energy: A Framework for Public Private Partnerships.” Department of the Environment, Heritage, and Local Government. May 2004. 13 Oct. 2008. <http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/PPP/FileDownLoad,1750,en.pdf>. --A government of Ireland report, but still relevant. Explains models for public- private partnerships, including public service contracts, private finance options and joint ventures. Useful in considering methods of finance transferable to BC.

Tampier, Martin. “Distributed Energy Utilities: It’s All About Financing.”EnergyWorldOnline. 22 May 2006. 12 Oct 2008. <http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/reinsider/story?id=44964>. --Argues that tax incentives and buy-downs are insufficient for widespread adoption of new technologies. Provides mostly Canadian examples of utility driven and private financing structures that can be expanded to other jurisdictions.

Not Particularly Useful

BC Hydro Power Smart. 2 Oct. 2008. 13 Oct. 2008. <http://www.bchydro.com/power smart/commercial.html?WT.mc_id=rd_business>. --Unable to determine which alternative energies are considered under the Whole Buildings Plan. Website refers you to your BC Hydro Representative for more information.

The David Suzuki Foundation, Energy: Renewable, Geothermal, Copyright © 2008 <http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Climate_Change/Energy/Renewables/geothermal.asp> • This site is a good environmentalist perspective, but it does not contain the detailed info we are likely to need. It also champions the benefits of heat pumps in Manitoba, but does not make clear that the same benefits will not be attained for a similar project in a different geographical context.

GeoExchange BC. 2007 14 Oct. 2008. < http://www.geoexchangebc.ca/>. --Semi-useful site to generate ideas for further research- includes links to news articles pertaining to pump installations (although not very up to date), and case study considerations. Financial assistance section links to funding and financing websites that do not offer clear savings options, but give phone numbers for individual home assessments.

Canadian GeoExchange Coalition, Copyright © 2004-2008 < http://www.geo-exchange.ca/en/> • The Canadian GeoExchange Coalition aims to be the industry catalyst that can unite the public and private sector stakeholders, as well as expanding the market for heat pump technology in Canada. They have good info on Financial Issues and Basic technical info, but their Website lacked more in depth content and academic material. (Many folders still empty)

“Maximzing Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in British Columbia.” ThePembina Institute & Pollution Probe. Oct. 2006. 13 Oct. 2008. <http://www.pollutionprobe.org/Reports/Maximizing%20Energy%20Efficiency%20and%20Renewable%20Energy%20in%20British%20Columbia.pdf>. --Recommendations made in very broad terms- meant to provide overview of a range of technologies with no specifications about any in particular. PST exemption information out of date.

Ministry of Small Business and Revenue. Government of British Columbia. 12 Oct. 2008. < http://www.gov.bc.ca/sbr/>. --No obvious consideration of renewable energy sources in terms of tax credits or home owner grants. Not included in information for home owners, small businesses, farms, or industries. Not mentioned in current tax rates.

Natural Resources Canada, CanREN, Earth and Geothermal Energy, 2006-01-31 <http://www.canren.gc.ca/tech_appl/index.asp?CaId=3&PgId=8> • The site gives good general knowledge about the basic design and function of heat pump systems. It also briefly alludes to the factors affecting overall GHG reductions and energy savings. Still likely too broad for complete technological understanding.