Project Profile

Clarke Lake Geothermal Project

The Clarke Lake Geothermal Project (CLGP) is a joint economic development initiative of Fort Nelson First Nation (FNFN) to re-purpose the Clark Lake gas field as one of Canada’s first commercially viable geothermal electricity production facilities. The field is located on, and adjacent to, Fort Nelson First Nation Reserve #2 land. The 7 MWnet geothermal electricity generation plant will produce clean, renewable baseload electricity with a 95% capacity factor. The clean energy generated by CLGP will displace gas fired generation on which the region is currently 100% dependent.

In addition to providing sustainable revenue for the region, the CLGP will generate employment and bring economic vibrancy to Fort Nelson. The clean energy generated will directly offset the burning of fossil fuels and deliver an historic commercial scale demonstration of geothermal energy production in Canada. It will help to make a case for reducing reliance upon fossil fuels and paving the way for future developments in Canada where geothermal resource exists. This project exemplifies British Columbia’s environmentally sustainable development initiatives through its CleanBC plan.

The development of CLGP meets a variety of key objectives:

• As a First Nations led economic development initiative CLGP advances indigenous reconciliation.
• It displaces gas fired generation within the region reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• It will provide baseload renewable electricity to the region demonstrating geothermal energy as a new clean energy technology in Canada and de-risking future projects.
• CLGP would be a Nation Building project that will raise the Canadian profile of FNFN.
• CLGP will generate 58,254 MWh of clean power per year using a renewable source of energy which would be naturally replenished throughout the power plant’s useful life.
• Unlike other renewable sources such as wind or solar, geothermal provides a reliable and sustainable source of energy.
• Geothermal development activities result in lower long-term land disturbance than other conventional and renewable methods of power generation.
• It re-purposes a petroleum industrial site for clean energy development.
• Excess heat from the plant can be utilized to stimulate additional economic opportunities in the region. Some opportunities for the Fort Nelson Region could be domestic heating, industrial heating, food security, industrial food production, hydrogen production, mineral extraction etc.
• It produces a positive, sustainable and long-term revenue stream for the Nations and the region.
• CLGP would incubate a wide variety of skills and provide a stable source of employment, throughout the project lifecycle which include start-up, exploration, feasibility drilling, construction and operations.
• Approximately 10,000 workdays are expected to be created during the well field development phase; approximately 40% of which will be for positions requiring little or no direct experience.