Public Perception Regarding Deep Geothermal Energy and Social Acceptability in the Province of Québec, Canada

Abstract

Deep geothermal energy is unknown to a large proportion of Canadians and even less well known in the province of Quebec. Public outreach and acceptance associated with this “new” energy is a key factor for its development. In the fall of 2013, an Internet-based public awareness and opinion survey of Quebec province residents was conducted to investigate their opinion about energy with a focus on their knowledge and opinion about deep geothermal energy. Quebec’s population recognized the challenge of developing renewable energies. However, geothermal energy was more or less known. Only 17% knew the difference between shallow and deep geothermal energy. After reading a text describing deep geothermal energy exploitation, 67% of the respondents supported its use to produce electricity in the province, and 64% would be in favour of a pilot project in their region. When hydraulic fracturing was introduced as a technique sometimes used in deep geothermal energy, the level of support decrease to 56% for the use of deep geothermal energy to produce electricity in the province and to 52% for a pilot project in their region. The main concerns of Quebec’s population on deep geothermal energy are related to groundwater pollution and soil contamination.