Alberta Celebrates Milestone as Eavor Advances Cleantech Project in Germany

Alberta’s emerging geo-energy sector is creating jobs throughout the province while helping other nations enhance energy security.

In 2019, for example, Alberta’s government provided $2 million to help Calgary-based Eavor Technologies demonstrate the world’s first closed-loop geothermal system in Germany.

In 2023, the project is ready to cut emissions while powering homes and businesses.

“This is a made-in-Alberta success story and a testament to our province’s innovative and entrepreneurial spirit,” stated Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas. “Using innovation and expertise perfected in our oil and gas sector, Eavor is proof that Alberta can, and will, export our energy and expertise as we help power the world.”

Late last month, Schulz joined German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other European dignitaries to celebrate the start of drilling on the first commercial Eavor-Loop, known as Eavor-Europe, in Germany.

“Alberta’s emerging geothermal and geo-energy sector is vitally important,” said Schulz. “It will create jobs here at home while helping our allies achieve energy security in the years ahead.”

Eavor’s technology is designed to supply an innovative form of geothermal energy that is clean, “dispatchable,” and capable of being implemented at scale. It is a closed-loop system where a “benign working fluid” circulates in an industrial-sized heat exchanger without the need for a pumping system, according to the company, which has received significant funding for its work this year.

The Germany project is ultimately expected to provide enough electricity to power up to 18,000 homes and enough heat for up to 200,000 homes annually.

“Eavor applauds the Government of Alberta’s recognition and support of geothermal technologies within the recently issued mandate letters and the Alberta Emissions Reduction and Energy Development Plan,” stated chief executive John Redfern. “We look forward to continued collaboration that advances Alberta’s geothermal opportunity and provincial job creation while promoting Alberta as a responsible energy producer on the global scale.”

The Eavor-Loop in Geretsried will supply the entire region with district heating and electricity within the next four years, according to a statement from the company.

Over the past two years, Eavor has added 45 full-time employees across its offices, bringing the firm’s total headcount north of 100.