Eavor-Lite

Executive Overview

Eavor-Lite is the world's first full-scale closed-loop geothermal demonstration project, operated by Eavor Technologies near Rocky Mountain House (Clearwater County), Alberta, Canada. The system commenced operation on December 4, 2019, and has run continuously for over four years, producing approximately 20 GWh of thermal energy since start-up with 96.2% uptime (99.6% reliability excluding planned trials). The project comprises two vertical wellbores drilled to approximately 2,400 metres depth, connected by two horizontal multilateral legs each approximately 1,700 metres long — total new borehole drilled of 8.8 km, completed in 46 days. Total direct investment was $12.5 million, with the project subsequently raising $61 million in additional financing on the strength of the demonstration results. Government contributions included $1 million each from Alberta Innovates and Emissions Reduction Alberta, and $2.5 million from Natural Resources Canada's Clean Growth Program. The formation temperature at depth is approximately 78°C, with stable outlet temperature at approximately 50°C after four years.

How It Works & Differentiation

The Eavor-Loop circulates a working fluid through a sealed well network via a natural thermosiphon — no pump required during normal operation. The Rock-Pipe sealant applied to the wellbore laterals reduced the formation's original permeability of 0.5–50 mD to 0.15–0.25 µD, a reduction of 3–5 orders of magnitude, achieving 99.9% sealing at a steady-state leak-off rate of approximately 0.4 cubic metres per day against a production rate of 480 cubic metres per day. Measured thermodynamic performance was within 2% of pre-drill model predictions over 16 months, with a mean absolute error in outlet temperature prediction of 0.19°C — validating that the Eavor-Loop can be modelled accurately from surface data before capital commitment, eliminating the thermal output risk that affects conventional geothermal projects. No fracking, water extraction, or brine handling is required. The system can perform load-following, storing thermal energy in the subsurface during low-demand periods for later recovery.

Commercialization & Traction

The Eavor-Lite data directly underwrote the EU Innovation Fund grant for Eavor Geretsried in Germany — now in partial commercial operation since December 2025 — and informed the NV Energy PPA for the Valmy project in Nevada and the SCP GeoZone agreement in Sonoma County, California. The 4-year operational report confirmed no performance decline over the full operating period. The 2023 Eavor-Deep project in New Mexico extended the technology to 18,000 feet (approximately 5,480 metres) TVD at approximately 250°C, demonstrating the well construction and sealing approach at conditions relevant to electricity generation. Eavor-Lite remains in active operation as a live R&D platform for ongoing technology trials that feed into the commercial project pipeline.

Scalability & Strategic Context

Eavor-Lite's commercial extrapolation modelling suggests that a 12-lateral commercial loop at 4,500 metres depth with 150°C rock temperature could deliver district heating supply, while a high-temperature loop at 350°C could deliver approximately 8 MWe average output over 30 years per well pair. The system's ability to be modelled accurately from pre-drill data — and to be drilled and commissioned in approximately 18 months versus 5–10 years for conventional geothermal — is the platform's primary commercial differentiator. Operating costs are approximately 80% lower than traditional geothermal due to the elimination of fluid handling, brine treatment, and induced seismicity risk. Eavor-Lite is the foundational reference that underpins every commercial project Eavor is pursuing globally.