| Abstract |
This study presents a hybrid renewable energy system that integrates geothermal extraction with solar panels and aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES), specifically optimized for Canada’s high-latitude climates. Geothermal energy provides continuous baseload heat during long winter nights via engineered wellbore heat exchangers, while abundant summer daylight enables excess solar to be converted into heat and injected into subsurface reservoirs for winter. During winter, the producer of the ATES start working to compliment the power and heat provided by the geothermal system to meet the increasing heating and energy. By leveraging seasonal complementarity and ATES, the proposed system can deliver dispatchable heat and power and advance Canada’s decarbonization targets and strengthen energy resilience in remote and indigenous communities. In this paper, a modelling framework was developed using high-fidelity geothermal system simulations with PV generation profiles and storage dispatch optimization under stochastic weather inputs. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to identify the key drivers of system-level performance and maintain the balance between power generation and storage. Optimization frameworks for multi-energy hubs in Alberta and indigenous remote communities have demonstrated that integrated geothermal-solar-storage systems can improve overall system efficiency and resilience by 10-15% through coordinated dispatch and resource allocation. Techno-economic assessment across multiple case studies reveals that co-locating geothermal loops with PV farms reduces levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) by 5-20% compared to standalone PV systems. This approach aligns with national decarbonization goals and enhances energy security for remote and indigenous communities relying on diesel for energy supply. |