| Title | Re-evaluating Geothermal Potential in Resolute Bay, Nunavut: Implications for Energy Resilience in Canada’s High Arctic |
|---|---|
| Authors | Stephen E. Grasbya, Krista Williscrofta, Wanju Yuana, Keith Dewinga, Kezhen Hua, Jeff Witterb, Shannon Farrellc |
| Year | 2026 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | |
| Abstract | Resolute Bay, the second northernmost community in Canada, is located on the southwestern tip of Cornwallis Island, Nunavut. With no road access, the community depends entirely on sealift and airlift for food, fuel, and other essential supplies. The annual heating demand is approximately 5,690 MWh, and electricity consumption is ~4,500 MWh—both currently met by imported diesel. The high-latitude location results in 89 consecutive days of polar night each year, severely limiting solar energy viability. Coupled with a mean annual air temperature of -15.1 °C (ranging from -31.4 to +4.9 °C), these conditions also hinder wind energy production and reduce the efficiency of battery storage systems, presenting significant challenges to renewable energy deployment. Early geothermal assessments in Resolute Bay suggested elevated thermal gradients (~121 mW/m²), based on shallow permafrost temperature measurements. These led to optimistic projections, including geothermal greenhouse heating scenarios with costs up to 50% lower than food shipments from southern Canada. However, these studies did not adequately account for the influence of the region’s eustatic history on subsurface temperature regimes, leading to overestimates of the geothermal resource. Here we reassess the geothermal potential of Resolute Bay through an integrated analysis of historical temperature data, regional geology, and new thermal property measurements. Although our updated model indicates that the subsurface is not as warm as previously estimated, it still reveals potential for direct-use geothermal heating. These results offer a more realistic appraisal of geothermal viability and support future planning for resilient energy infrastructure and energy sovereignty in remote northern communities. |