This article was originally published in Scovan’s IGNITE Vol. 4
By LISA MUELLER, President and CEO of FutEra Power, a subsidiary of Razor Energy Corp.
The challenge energy, mining, agriculture, and various other industries face today is no longer just meeting growing global demands, but doing so more sustainably. With further pressure from Canada’s ambitious climate targets, industries must look to adopt cleaner, more efficient practices. It is in this transition to a low-carbon future that Calgary-based company, FutEra Power, sees an opportunity for Alberta to lead the change.
FutEra Power, alongside Razor Energy, is developing Canada’s first co-produced geothermal hybrid power project. Located in Swan Hills, Alberta, the project will demonstrate the natural relationship between Oil & Gas and geothermal development. “Geothermal is resource production. We’ve always produced water when producing oil and gas. Now, we’re looking at that hot produced water under a new light,” Says Lisa Mueller, Chief Executive Officer of FutEra Power. Building upon Razor’s legacy waterflood operation, FutEra will capture geothermal heat from water produced and re-injected as part of conventional processes to generate clean electricity. The electricity is baseload and unaffected by the intermittency issues that burden other renewables. FutEra will further optimize power production with the addition of natural gas turbines, which will result in a nameplate capacity of 21 MW or the potential to power around 16,000 Canadian homes year-round.
The project aims to be grid-connected by late Q3 2022. In a true testament to the Albertan spirit to constantly innovate, FutEra will continue to develop the facility with plans to transition it to carbon-neutral by 2025. The company is currently designing carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies which will combine with hydrogen production to further charter a made-in-Canada net zero pathway.
Recognized and supported by Natural Resources Canada, Emissions Reduction Alberta, Alberta Innovates, and Arena Investors, the FutEra model combines the inherent value of oil and gas assets with the potential of renewable energy. “We can create so much advantage by using our existing oil and gas infrastructure, and expertise, to transition to a lower carbon future,” says Lisa. Ms.Mueller is a strong advocate for geothermal energy and emerging clean technologies in Alberta, taking part in notable works such as “Leveraging our Assets for Diversification,” an initiative that identified regulatory barriers to transforming Alberta’s over 95,000 inactive well sites. These sites, advantaged by a pre-existing footprint and decades of data, are prime for renewable development.
FutEra Power has always firmly believed the transition to a sustainable tomorrow requires the collective efforts of everyone, especially the Oil & Gas sector. “It all comes down to energy literacy. Energy is a complex system from production to distribution. A successful transition requires our Canadian Oil & Gas producers who understand the logistics of energy and have already taken steps to produce the cleanest barrel. Now, we’re leveraging that expertise, infrastructure, and innovative spirit, to continue curtailing emissions while meeting global energy demands. I don’t think it will be long before the Oil & Gas industry rebrands to the moniker of Energy & Technology.”
As Canada strives to achieve a net zero 2050, FutEra Power has demonstrated both the resiliency and ingenuity Alberta possesses and the province’s dedication to building a more sustainable tomorrow.
Scovan is proud to bring value to Futera on their Swan Hills co-produced geothermal hybrid power project.
To stay up to date on FutEra Power’s latest news, stories, and updates, follow the company on LinkedIn @futerapowercorp.