Nunavik Mining Workshop 2025

Abstract- A pilot geothermal heat pump system is being installed to heat office spaces in the Kuujjuaq Forum building. A borehole with a depth of 450 m was drilled in the fall of 2024 to evaluate the geothermal gradient. Results have shown a corrected gradient of nearly 20 °C/km. A ground heat exchanger was installed down to a depth of 168 m. An experimental heat pump system is planned to be installed in March 2025 to demonstrate the use of geothermal technologies in North. Interviews and surveys were also conducted to evaluate concerns about geothermal energy that could provide a reliable heating source when combined with photovoltaic solar panels to decarbonize northern community buildings. Energy monitoring over the next year will help to determine if a full-scale solar assisted ground-coupled heat pump system can be installed to decrease diesel consumption of the Forum building. The presentation will describe this experimental project achieved by Kuujjuamiut Inc. with support of INRS, Université Laval and UQO, within the scope of Kuujjuaq Clean Energy Plan and the Indigenous Off-Diesel Initiative program of Natural Resources Canada.