The Dutch geothermal sector is to receive a grant of 2 billion Euros, which will be made available for at least 18 new geothermal projects in the near future. Currently, the total number of realized and well-advanced geothermal energy projects in the Netherlands is 50. These projects are estimated to provide direct heating to roughly 7 percent of Dutch households, and that number is projected to rise to 25 percent in the coming years. Hans Bolscher, chairman of Geothermie Nederland commented: “You cannot heat the whole of the Netherlands sustainably with electricity. Fortunately, we are now seeing a clear change when it comes to attention for large-scale sustainable heat production.”

Researchers at the Schulich School of Engineering recently received funding that will support investigative work into optimizing geothermal energy systems. The funds will support a four-year $3 million project conducted by the Energi Simulation Centre for Geothermal Systems Research, where Dr. Apostolos Kantzas serves as the associate director and Dr. Roman Shor serves as the Energi Simulation Industrial Research Chair in Geothermal Systems. This funding comes from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Mitacs, in collaboration with Ashaw Energy, ConocoPhillips, KALiNA Distributed Power, Suncor, Telsec and Terrador Energy, and in partnership with the Alberta Energy Regulator, Alberta Geological Survey, and the Geological Survey of Canada.

Technological trail-blazer Industrie 4.0 has featured Eavor in an online article, highlighting many advantages Eavor has in the renewable energy sector and how Advanced Geothermal Systems (AGS) can expedite Austria’s energy self-sufficiency goals. Unlike traditional geothermal and Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), AGS does not rely on access to natural or man-made underground aquifers; therefore, it bypasses the need for in depth exploration or fracking. Using conduction-based technology, Eavor-Loops™ are versatile and scalable because they harvests energy from hot rock rather than aquifers. Geothermal energy and AGS were recently subjects in the “Sustainability Insights” panel, where Industrie 4.0 talked to Executive Vice President Europe Operations Daniel Mölk, discussing his insights on the development and costs of geothermal systems and its future potential for ​​district heating.

The next-generation of business professionals are exalting Eavor as one of the top 5 most promising Canadian firms in energy storage innovation. A post made by Re_Generation on LinkedIn indicated that long-duration energy storage is anticipated to be the “Holy Grail” in transitioning to a cleaner electrical grid. Intermittent sources of energy, such as wind and solar, on their own make having a renewable-dominated grid challenging because they are non-dispatchable. This is where Eavor-Loop™ provides an astronomical advantage. The closed-loop system mitigates challenges that intermittent energy sources face because it is not vulnerable to seasonal changes or weather patterns. It’s a reliable source of energy that can be dispatched 24/7 365 days a year.

The Nuremberg Press recently published a detailed article promoting Eavor’s project in Geretsried in hopes that narrating the success might inspire similar future projects in Nuremberg. The article opened by explaining the current state of geothermal energy in Germany, which is limited to conventional residential buildings and only goes to a depth of 100 metres. In comparison, Eavor’s system drills 4,500 meters down, and it networks 60 kilometres of wellbore into a single closed-loop system, where as a total project could be around 260 kilometres. With the anticipated completion by mid-2024, this technology will supply districts within Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen with clean heat and clean electricity.

Eavor has teamed up with social enterprise Mindfulicity to continue building a healthy work culture that inspires productivity and innovation. Mindfulicity’s core values were born from support systems and counseling expertise within YWCA Calgary. They believe the skill sets needed to build and maintain healthy relationships – at home, in the community and in our workplaces are crucial. “We’re experts in the field of relationship building, and we’ve just taken those skills and repackaged them in a different way,” said Manager Mairi Serpas.