Geothermal Symposium

Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Geothermal Symposium 2017
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This event was the first of its kind at the University of Waterloo and featured distinguished speakers from across the globe. It provided opportunities to meet with the experts and make connections with like-minded innovators from academia, industry, funding and international agencies. It proved to be an exciting day of research, panel presentations, discussion and more.

The purpose of the event was to advance our understanding of the role of geothermal technologies in providing decarbonized energy to Canadian communities, particularly those in remote and cooler climates. The Symposium brought together technology developers and innovators, leading researchers and entrepreneurs, industry thought leaders, and policymakers to help shape a vision of geothermal energy integration into Canada’s energy future.

Panel topics Included:

  • Overcoming R&D Challenges for Geothermal Energy: Navigating Convolutions of Technical, Social, and Political Paradigm Shifts of the 21st Century
  • The Future of Geothermal Energy in Canada: Technology Roadmap for Geothermal Heat and Power
  • Science, Technology and Innovation Strategies: Management and Mobilization of Financial Resources for Geothermal Technology Development
  • Technical and Economic Considerations: An Overview of the Global Market

Agenda

8:00 am – 9:00 am 

Coffee and Networking 

9:00 am – 9:30 am 

Welcoming Remarks 

Charmaine Dean, Vice President, Research Professor, Statistics & Actuarial Science, University of Waterloo 

9:30 am – 11:00 am 

Panel 1 (Academic)

Overcoming R&D challenges for Geothermal Energy:  
Navigating Convolutions of Technical, Social, and Political Paradigm shifts of the 21st Century 

Moderator: 

Robert Gracie, Associate Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Waterloo 

Panelists: 

‘Geothermal Energy Storage’ - Maurice Dusseault, Professor, Engineering Geology, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo 

'Applications of Thermal Piles and Energy Efficiency of Basements' - Pooneh Maghoul, Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering, University of Manitoba 
 
'The State of Geothermal Research in Canada' - Steve Grasby, Research Scientist, Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) 

'Geothermal Heating Options for Cold Northern Canada' - Jasmin Raymond, Professor, Eau Terre Environnement Research Centre, INRS (Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique), Université du Québec 

11:00 am – 11:15 am 

Break 

11:15 am – 12:45 pm 

Panel 2 (International)

Technical and Economic Considerations: An Overview of the Global Market  

Moderator: 

Drew Knight, Director, Global Alliances, University of Waterloo 

Panelists: 

'Geothermal Development in Europe and Corresponding Scientific Concepts' - Thomas Kohl, Professor & Division Leader, Institute of Applied Geosciences, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany 

'The U.K Geothermal Proposition' - Joe Howe, Executive Director & Professor, the Thornton Energy Institute, University of Chester, United Kingdom 

'Geothermal Development in Iceland' - María Sigríður Guðjónsdóttir, Professor & Head, Mechanical & Electrical Engineering; Leader, the Geothermal Group, Reykjavik University, Iceland  

'Making EGS Work' - John McLennan, USTAR Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering, University of Utah; Senior Research Scientist, Energy & Geoscience Center, University of Utah, United States

12:45 pm – 1:45 pm 

Lunch 

1:45 pm – 2:15 pm 

Luncheon Key Note Speaker 

Murat Basarir, Manager, Business Development, CoPower 

2:15 pm – 3:45 pm 

Panel 3 (Industry)

The Future of Geothermal Energy in Canada:  Technology Roadmap for Geothermal Heat and Power 
 
‘Geothermal: The Next Generation of Energy’ - Craig Dunn, Chief Geologist, Borealis Geopower 
 
‘Saskatchewan Williston Basin Geothermal Power Generation’ - Kirsten Marcia, President, CEO, & Director, Deep Earth Energy Production (DEEP) 
 
‘Municipal Geothermal Opportunities’ - T.M. Gunderson, CFO, Epoch Energy Development Inc. 
 
‘Geothermal Heating and Cooling of Buildings: An Industry on the Move’ - Stanley Reitsma, CEO, Geosource Energy Inc.; Vice President, Ontario geothermal Association 
 
'Enhancing Enhanced Geothermal Systems' - Brian Wagg, Director, Business Development and Planning, C-FER Technologies 

3:45 pm – 4:00 pm 

Break 

4:00 pm – 5:30 pm 

Panel 4 (Funding Agencies)

Science, Technology and Innovation Strategies: Management and Mobilization of Financial Resources for Geothermal Technology Development 
  
'NSERC Research Partnerships' - Andrew Sinclair, Manager, Ontario Regional Office, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Canada (NSERC) 
                                          
'OCE Programs' - Richard Worsfold, Director, Business Development, Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) 
                                             
Peter Massie, Policy Analyst, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) 

5:30 pm – 5:45 pm 

Closing Remarks 

Ann Lin, Vice President, Corporate Development & Corporate Secretary, Changfeng Energy Inc. 

5:45 pm – 7:00 pm 

Reception 

Student Posters, Networking & Industry-Academic Collaboration