A team of researchers led by University of Alberta professor MartynUnsworth traveled to the communities of Resolute Bay and Cambridge Bay in Nunavut, Canada, this past summer to conduct surface studies to assess the geothermal potential of the region.

The event was made possible through federal funding received by QulligEnergy Corporation, the region's sole electricity supplier and distributor, in partnership with Respec Inc.

In both communities, the team found rock and water, indicating the presence of geothermal resources that could be used to generate electricity. This was Unsworth's hypothesis, based on data from oil exploration in the area in the 1950s and 1960s.Unsworth also mentioned that similar conditions had been found in the Yukon and British Columbia.

This initiative follows the release of a geothermal resource map for Nunavut by the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association (CanGEA).

Benefits other than electricity generation Nunavut relies almost entirely on 25 independent diesel power plants to supply energy. Each year, approximately 55 million liters of diesel are delivered to Nunavut communities. Due to the remoteness of the region and harsh weather conditions, all of this work must be done during the summer months.

However, the development of geothermal energy offers more benefits than just a reduced reliance on diesel fuel. Geothermal energy can provide heating for homes and agricultural facilities, enabling communities to grow food locally. This would offset the high cost of regularly delivering food to the community.

Unsworth commented, "This is the experience of many countries around the world who initially just used geothermal energy to generate electricity and then realized that heat was just as valuable. So people are using geothermal energy in Northern Europe to heat greenhouses and grow vegetables because it's so cold outside."

The ResoluteBay community is one of three research sites where University of Waterloo PhD student Carson Kinney is studying the impact of geothermal energy on sustainable food production. The study found that using geothermal heating in greenhouses resulted in fresh produce at a lower average cost of 50% than shipping food to the community.

Kinney said, "The idea of a greenhouse in the community provides food security, local output and a sense of belonging with the vegetables themselves."

Nunavut's geothermal future

According to QulliqEnergy Corporation spokesperson Tina Nleya, federal and local governments have been actively working together to explore and develop geothermal energy in Nunavut. Through the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, the federal government has allocated $1.2 million to continue geothermal assessments in the region.

The entire geothermal exploration program is expected to cost C$2 billion and will be completed between 2030 and 2031, Nleya said. It will be a four-phase, in-depth study assessing the region's geothermal energy capacity.

Source: Yahoo! News

Aresearch team led by Universityof Albertaprofessor Martyn Unsworth spent the past summer in the communities of Resolute Bay and Cambridge Bay to conduct surface studies that will help assess the geothermal potential in the territory of Nunavut in Canada.

Thecampaign was executed through thefederal funding received by the Qullig Energy Corporation,the sole electricity provider and distributor in the territory, in partnership with Respec Inc. territory, in partnership with Respec Inc.

Inboth communities, the team found rocks and water that indicate that there is a geothermal resource that can be used to generate electricity. This is a hypothesis that Unsworth has ad based on data from oil exploration in the region from the 1950's and 1960's. hypothesis that Unsworth has ad based on data from oil exploration in the region from the 50's and 60's. Unsworth also mentioned that similar conditions have been found in Yukon and British Columbia. mentioned that similar conditions have been found in Yukon and British Columbia.

Priorto this initiative, the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association (CanGEA) hadalready published a geothermal resource mapfor Nunavut.

Benefitsbeyond electricity generationTheterritory of Nunavut relies almost completely on the 25 standalone diesel power plants for energy. Each year , approximately 55 million liters of diesel are sealifted to the Nunavut communities. Theterritory of Nunavut relies almost completely on the 25 standalone diesel power plants for energy. Each year , approximately 55 million liters of diesel are sealifted to the Nunavut communities. All of this has to be done during the summer given the remoteness and harsh weather conditions of the region.

Developinggeothermal, however, offers benefits beyond just that of lifting this dependence on diesel. Geothermal energy can provide heating for homes and agricultural facilities, allowing the communities to grow food locally. Geothermal energy can provide heating for homes and agricultural facilities, allowing the communities to grow food locally. This will offset the high costs of having to ship food regularly to the communities.

"That'sbeen the experience in many countries around the world where traditionally they started off just using geothermal energy to make electricity and then realized that actually the heat is just as valuable. That'sbeen the experience in many countries around the world where traditionally they started off just using geothermal energy to make electricity and then realized that actually the heat is just as valuable. So people use geothermal heat to heat greenhouses to grow vegetables in Northern Europe where it's too cold outside," commented Unsworth.

Thecommunity of Resolute Bay is one of three sites studied by Carson Kinney, a PhD student at the University of Waterloo, to assess the impact of geothermal energy on sustainable food production. The study found that geothermal heating in greenhouses can yield fresh produce with an average cost that is 50% lower than having to ship it. 50% lower than having to ship them to the community.

"Theidea of greenhouses in communities - it provides food security, local produce, and a sense of belonging with the vegetables themselves," said Kinney. vegetables themselves," said Kinney.

Thefuture of geothermal in Nunavut

Accordingto Tina Nleya, Spokesperon of Qulliq Energy Corporation, the federal and territorial governments have been actively working together to Through the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, the federal government has granted $1.2 million in funding to continue the geothermal assessment in the region. Through the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, the federal government has granted $1.2 million in funding to continue the geothermal assessment in the region.

Nleyasaid that the entire geothermal exploration project is expected to cost $2 billion and will be completed in 2030 to 2031. This will be a four-phase in-depth study to evaluate the territory's capacity for geothermal energy production. phase in-depth study to evaluate the territory's capacity for geothermal energy production.

Source:Yahoo!