#866: Dr Jonathan Banks: Geothermal Provides Consistent Baseload Power

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Wind and solar are significant sources of renewable energy.

But without battery storage, these are still inconsistent in supply.

That’s where geothermal power has an advantage.

Researcher Dr. Jonathan Banks explains what he calls "baseload power".

DR JONATHAN BANKS:  As opposed to wind or solar which have capacity factors of 15 or 25 percent, a geothermal power plant has a capacity factor of over 95 percent.  So you turn it on and it is producing close to its nameplate capacity for 95 percent of the year.  So no need for battery storage.  In fact, we do look in a sort of more innovative, more experimental manner, we look for geothermal wells as heat batteries.  So instead of using solar power electric with a photovoltaic cell, we can produce solar electricity with a concentrated solar plant, where the heat from the sun is concentrated, and then that’s used to to drive a steam turbine, while in the wintertime, we can store excess heat that we collect in the summer in the geothermal well itself.

Dr. Banks says his next steps will look at new technologies, economics and policy framework required to successfully implement geothermal power.

Thanks today to ALBERTA INNOVATES

Listen to the full interview with Dr. Jonathan Banks at INNOVATION ANTHOLOGY.COM

I’M CHERYL CROUCHER

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Alberta Innovates

Alberta Innovates is a provincially funded Corporation with a mandate to deliver 21st century solutions for the most compelling challenges facing Albertans. We do this by building on our province’s research and technology development strengths in the core sectors of health, environment, energy, food and fibre and platforms such as artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and omics. We are working with our partners to diversify Alberta’s economy, improve our environmental performance and enhance our well-being through research and innovation. 

The Alberta Innovates system has roots stretching back almost 90 years

In March, 2016 the consolidation of Alberta Innovates was announced and on November 1, a single, integrated innovation powerhouse, Alberta Innovates, was formed. Two applied research subsidiaries – Innotech Alberta and C-Fer Technologies –  serve public and private sector interests.

The Alberta Innovates system was first created in January 2010, as part of an overall innovation framework developed within the Alberta Research and Innovation Act. At that time, four corporations were established:

  • Bio Solutions
  • Energy and Environment Solutions
  • Health Solutions
  • Technology Futures.

The Alberta Innovates system has a 90-year legacy. Our expertise is built on the successes of:

  • Alberta Institute for Agriculture
  • Forestry and the Environment
  • Alberta Agricultural Research Institute
  • Alberta Forestry Research Institute
  • Alberta Life Sciences Institute
  • Alberta Ingenuity
  • Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research
  • Alberta Research Council
  • iCORE
  • nanoAlberta
  • Alberta Water Research Institute (AWRI)
  • Alberta Energy Research Institute (AERI)
  • Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority (AOSTRA).

 

Program Date: 2017-05-09