Geothermal plays a tremendously important role in Iceland´s energy supply and has transformed the country´s economy while simultaneously reducing its CO2 emissions. The direct use of geothermal for heating and food production has a strong potential in Canada´s northern territories as well as in Alaska. Other direct uses such as aquaculture, horticultures, food processing and advanced chemistry are also possibilities. Utilisation of geothermal would provide these Arctic areas with a clean renewable energy source and replacing inefficient and polluting diesel-powered generators that are currently used by many off-the-grid communities. This session will cover direct-use of geothermal for the following: the remote area of Fljót in Northern Iceland, the potential for geothermal direct in Canada´s 175 Aboriginal and Northern off-grid communities, and how geothermal could transform renewable energy access and energy security in Alaska´s remote communities

Speakers:

• Alison Thompson, Chair & Co-Founder, CanGEA: Canada’s 175 Aboriginal and Northern Off-Grid Communities: Geothermal Power, Heat, Greenhouses and Jobs Opportunities.
• George Roe, Adjunct Research Professor, University of Alaska at Fairbanks; Program Manager, Arctic Remote Energy Networks Academy (ARENA), UAF
• Magnús Ólafsson, Senior Geochemist and Project Manager, ÍSOR, Iceland GeoSurvey: Exploration and Sustainable, Cascaded Use of Geothermal in Remote Areas in Iceland

Chair:

• Ágústa Ýr Þorbergsdóttir, Director at NAVIGO ehf.