This paper contributes to the geothermal and renewable energy literature by introducing an integrated conceptual framework that combines commercially demonstrated technologies (geothermal baseload, waste-heat cascading, vertical hydroponics) into a vertically stacked ecosystem tailored to Alberta's geology, climate, and industrial landscape. It fills a gap in existing research by demonstrating how geothermal can serve as a foundational resource for co-located data centres and agriculture, potentially offsetting drilling costs through premium power agreements and repurposing >500,000 orphaned wells—offering a practical pathway to resilient, low-carbon infrastructure in energy-transition contexts.
Missy Sarah Smith (2025) studied this question.