On December 8, the Government of Alberta proclaimed the Geothermal Resource Development Act (GRDA). This establishes the AER as the primary regulator for deep geothermal energy developments in Alberta; amendments to other supporting acts to manage geothermal resources were also included.
We are working to finalize the details of the regulatory framework, including the application process and technical requirements for development of geothermal resources. We will implement the application process with the release of the rules, directives, and guiding documents. We plan to publish the final requirements in spring 2022.
While we are not able to accept geothermal applications until the rules and associated regulatory instruments are drafted and in force, we will work with industry and other stakeholders to answer any questions about the regulatory system, application processing, timelines, or procedures.
Questions about geothermal resource development, including application submission, licences, and transfers, can be emailed to geothermal@aer.ca. Questions may also be sent to our inquiries line at 1-855-297-8311.
