We are Canada's leading experts on geothermal energy
Founded in 2007, Borealis is Canada’s most established geothermal energy company. We are experts who investigate geothermal potential in your area to determine the feasibility of developing assets.
Our leadership team has spent their entire careers in the energy sector. We have developed countless energy projects and understand how to deliver them.
Our leadership team has spent their entire careers in the energy sector. We have developed countless energy projects and understand how to deliver them.
Our purpose driven approach is in everything we do
Borealis focuses on creating positive outcomes for every stakeholder. Our stakeholders include clients, employees, suppliers, investors, communities, government, and Indigenous Traditional Territories. We see profit as the means to achieve sustainable development goals and to support the environment. Our business approach of "good profits" creates win-win scenarios that benefit everyone involved.
"Our interpretation of 'good profits' aligns with our belief that success in business should result from the positive impact on the people, industries and communities we touch." - Alison Thompson
Borealis employs leading experts to deliver award-winning project planning and development
Borealis holds itself to the highest standards. You can be confident we are delivering the best value consulting in the industry. The experience, expertise, and commitment our team brings to your geothermal projects are clear in our bios below.
MANAGEMENT TEAM
“Well-behaved women seldom make history,” Laurel Thatcher Ulrich.
Inspiration: Alison’s engineering iron ring ceremony sparked her dedication to contributing to society. Over the years, Alison spent her vacations visiting the geothermal wonders of the world. In Yellowstone Park, she watched Old Faithful erupt. This phenomenon is created where magma superheats a nearby water formation deep within the Earth, like a kettle on the stove. As pressure builds, the steam can only go up. Alison watched the awe inspiring 45-meter-high, frothing geyser and asked herself, “Why aren’t we using geothermal in Canada?” In New Zealand, she visited the geothermally heated Huka Prawn Park. Huka grows tropical prawns using waste heat from a nearby geothermal power station. Alison’s question changed from why to how, “How can we use geothermal heat in Canada?” Instead of burning fossil fuels to generate heat and emit greenhouse gases, Huka uses geothermal 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. Alison has seen the impact of climate change and the hydrocarbon industry’s contribution. In response, she started drawing comparisons between geothermal and her work with Suncor. She realized that steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD)[1] is effectively a manufactured geothermal reservoir. [1] Advanced crude-oil and bitumen production using steam heat. Alison left oil and gas, deciding to influence a new, cleaner energy sector in Canada. Now, she devotes her time to leading the geothermal industry and creating a positive space for clean energy growth in Canada. Her passion extends to mentoring youth and women in STEM, which has earned Borealis international recognition for its Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion achievements. Alison’s vision for geothermal energy is about to become a reality. Having worked tirelessly to establish the Canadian geothermal industry and champion regulatory reform, she is excited that Borealis’ two B.C. based projects will soon begin construction. Experience: Alison is an innovator, bringing her diverse experience and understanding of technology to the European Commission and the US Department of Energy as a Geothermal Subject Matter Expert Evaluator. Alison believes there is no need for a trade-off between the environment and the economy. Qualifications:
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“When you get to the end zone, look like you’ve already been there”, my Dad, ex-professional football player.
Inspiration: Tim is inspired by those who accomplish a lot with very little. Tim believes a small group of the right individuals have the capacity to do wonderful things. In Borealis’s case, this means bringing meaningful change, while also redistributing benefits to those who need them more than others. Experience: Tim began his energy career with a summer job digging trenches and painting meters for a local natural gas company. Since then, he has gained experience through three distinct energy careers: first in natural gas, then corporate advisory, and now championing green energy with Borealis. Throughout, he has been fortunate to work with accomplished colleagues at the most advanced companies in the world. Tim’s leadership underpins the team’s capacity to excel. His depth and breadth of experience in global energy markets and the corporate agenda positions Borealis as a leading geothermal consulting firm and project developer. Qualifications:
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“When you’re curious, you find lots of interesting things to do,” Walt Disney.
Inspiration: Megan’s keen curiosity drives scientific investigation and discoveries. Megan is inspired each day by scientific possibilities. She is always striving to advance geothermal research and share her passion, inspiring both students and children with the possibilities of STEM. As an advocate for education, Megan presented at The Ark Children’s Cultural Center in Dublin for the Meet the Scientist exhibition, with an interactive presentation on how volcanoes form and erupt. Experience: Megan has designed geophysical exploration programs used to advance Borealis’ geothermal exploration strategy and process workflow. In her role at Borealis, Megan has presented her work at international conferences and is published in many academic journals such as Geophysical Research Letters, Geophysics, Frontiers in Physics, and the Journal of Volcanology and Geophysical Research. Additionally, Megan’s fieldwork experience includes supervising technical teams on exploration campaigns. Qualifications:
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“The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit," Nelson Henderson.
Inspiration: Spending time in nature, especially the mountains. In summer, Tessa spends countless hours hiking along forest trails and biking down steep mountainsides. In the winter, she spends all the time she can in the snow, skiing. Tessa understands the impacts of climate change and believes it is our responsibility, as inhabitants on this planet, to act as stewards for the environment. This is one of the many reasons she joined Borealis. She believes in the potential for geothermal energy to offer immediate value to local communities as well as lasting benefits for generations to come. Tessa helps us maintain a balanced scorecard that measures the impact of "good profits" for all stakeholders through practices that support Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) as well as Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) to uphold our Certificated B Corp designation. Experience: 10 years of experience in finance, accounting, audits, corporate administration, and business development. Qualifications:
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