Carolina S. Muñoz | MEL Candidate | Dec 16, 2022
Mentor: Amanda Drew, CF Real Properties Operations Group – North & Central /ADM(IE) / National Defence / Government of Canada
Abstract
In line with the Government of Canada’s decarbonization commitments, the Department of National Defence – DND – has established a target to reduce GHG emissions by 90%, compared to 2005, for its buildings and fleet by 2050. These objectives include DND’s arctic and sub-arctic sites, where extreme temperatures, harsh weather, and remoteness contribute to the reliance on fossil fuels to address heating needs.
This Capstone Project considers electrically driven heat pumps as an alternative to partially replace propane and heating oil for heating in sub-arctic DND sites connected to the grid. Technical considerations include the performance of air-source heat pumps at low temperatures and the feasibility of installing ground-source heat pumps in permafrost conditions. From the economic perspective, the competitiveness of heat pumps as a replacement for fuel-based heating equipment is highly dependent on the cost of electricity relative to heating oil and propane. Still, reducing emissions and securing local energy sources are priorities in DND’s context. Potential next steps include evaluating deep geothermal resources for heating and power generation.