Geothermal Heat Extraction and Distribution in the Community of Mayo, Yukon

The Village of Mayo has entered into a joint venture agreement with the Energy Solutions Centre to determine the feasibility and business case for optimizing the use of the Mayo aquifer as a geothermal heat utility. The study will investigate issues such as aquifer sustainability; appropriate methods of recharge or water discharge; the effectiveness of various heat pump technologies; and the suitability of the existing infrastructure to support distribution. In addition, it will provide sufficient technical detail to allow joint venture partners to determine the costs, timing and technology to be used in preparing a viable business case that would result in system installations in specific buildings. On a pilot-scale test of the system, the RCMP office, the Village office, the school, the nursing station and the curling rink will be retrofitted and heated using water from the aquifer. By displacing the use of fossil fuels in the target buildings with clean, renewable geothermal energy, greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by approximately 1,620 tonnes annually. If other buildings can be added to the community-heating network, the benefits will be greater and would include improved air quality during the winter heating season. This could reduce costs associated with air quality-related health problems by up to 50 per cent.