Borealis was born from a life-long passion for nature
Over the years, Borealis’s co-founder, Alison Thompson, spent her vacations visiting the geothermal wonders of the world.
In Yellowstone Park, Wyoming, Alison watched Old Faithful erupt, where, from deep within the Earth, magma superheats a nearby water formation like a kettle on the stove.
As pressure builds, the only place for the water and steam to go is up. Alison watched as Old-Faithful erupted into an awe-inspiring 45-metre-high frothing geyser, and she asked herself “why aren’t we using geothermal energy in Canada?” She started drawing comparisons to her work at the oil sands.
While working for Suncor, Thompson realized that steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) is effectively a manufactured geothermal reservoir.
Alison then traveled to New Zealand where she visited the geothermally heated Huka Prawn Park. Huka grows tropical prawns using waste heat from a nearby geothermal power station. Alison's question transformed from why to how, “how can we use geothermal heat in Canada?”
Instead of burning fossil fuels to generate heat and emit GHG, Huka uses hot water to produce sustainable food. The same technology can be used in Canada to heat greenhouses, dry lumber and eliminate fossil fuels in industrial boilers.
She left the oil and gas industry, devoting her time to geothermal leadership and creating a positive space for clean energy growth in Canada.
Over the years, Borealis’s co-founder, Alison Thompson, spent her vacations visiting the geothermal wonders of the world.
In Yellowstone Park, Wyoming, Alison watched Old Faithful erupt, where, from deep within the Earth, magma superheats a nearby water formation like a kettle on the stove.
As pressure builds, the only place for the water and steam to go is up. Alison watched as Old-Faithful erupted into an awe-inspiring 45-metre-high frothing geyser, and she asked herself “why aren’t we using geothermal energy in Canada?” She started drawing comparisons to her work at the oil sands.
While working for Suncor, Thompson realized that steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) is effectively a manufactured geothermal reservoir.
Alison then traveled to New Zealand where she visited the geothermally heated Huka Prawn Park. Huka grows tropical prawns using waste heat from a nearby geothermal power station. Alison's question transformed from why to how, “how can we use geothermal heat in Canada?”
Instead of burning fossil fuels to generate heat and emit GHG, Huka uses hot water to produce sustainable food. The same technology can be used in Canada to heat greenhouses, dry lumber and eliminate fossil fuels in industrial boilers.
She left the oil and gas industry, devoting her time to geothermal leadership and creating a positive space for clean energy growth in Canada.
After 15 years of hard work, Alison’s vision for geothermal is about to become a reality. After persevering through the early stages of establishing the geothermal industry and championing regulatory awareness in Canada, Borealis’s two projects will soon begin construction.
"Geothermal energy constructively engages the establishment and ensures a safer and greener future."
Alison Thompson
