Geothermal developer and lithium miner Deep Earth Energy Production is targeting early 2025 for the commissioning of its geothermal power plant in Saskatchewan.

It would be the first geothermal plant in Canada.

Deep Earth signed a mineral permit agreement with Prairie Lithium in October 2021 to exchange subsurface mineral permits. The company now owns subsurface mineral permits from the top of the Red River formation to the Precambrian, and retains all lithium potential.

The agreement also creates an Area of Mutual Interest for future lithium exploration by the two companies.

The geothermal plant will produce approximately 140 MW of power generation in 35 MW increments.

Deep Earth completed feasibility engineering for the plant in September 2021, and is currently working on design basis memorandum engineering with Scovan Engineering.

The plant can also be used for CO2 storage, Deep Earth said. It is exploring the use of the space for a multi-use CO2 storage field.

The geothermal field development will include 34 horizontal wells and 4 additional drill pads, which will have carbon steel tubing to prevent corrosion.

Deep Earth expects a final decision this fall with the SaskPower power purchase agreement (PPA).

The company has also completed a large volume 53-day production and injection geothermal pump test, the first to be completed in Canada.