Geothermal Potential at Kootenay Lake Focus of New Research Phase – EE Online
October 19, 2023
Geoscience BC is funding new research into the Kootenay Lake area’s geothermal heat potential to allow for focus on the zones presenting the most likely geothermal prospect.
As an area of hot spring activity, the east shore of Kootenay Lake in BC’s Southeast Region offers communities, commercial entities and Indigenous groups the potential of a clean source of direct heat or energy. The Kootenay Lake Geothermal Project, now entering its third phase, is developing a geothermal model based on new geological, geochemical, geospatial and geophysical surveys to further aid the assessment of the area’s clean energy potential.
This third phase will focus on the Crawford Creek and Gray Creek areas, identified in Phase 2 as having the most potential because they are close to the deep-seated Orebin Creek Fault, which may act as a conduit for geothermal fluids.
Project lead Gord MacMahon said: “Geothermal research conducted to date on the east shore of Kootenay Lake has pinpointed areas that are worthy of further research. This third phase of research aims to generate geologic and potential fluid-flow models and to fine-tune the research to inform decision-making on potential future test drilling.”
The project is also funded by the Regional District of Central Kootenay, Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP), CiCAN – Natural Resources Internship Program, and Mitacs.
