Resource exploration for a net-zero emission future with electromagnetic methods in applied geophysics

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The World Health Organization has stated that "Climate change is the greatest threat to global health in the 21st century". To address the climate crisis, every effort must be made to reduce the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Indeed, for Canada to achieve its 2050 goal of net-zero emissions, innovations in green energy and carbon dioxide (CO2) storage technology are essential. I believe that geophysics plays an important role in this goal through the strategic value of our natural resources. The overarching vision of my research program is to develop novel electromagnetic (EM) methods which will enable geothermal energy, critical minerals and carbon capture & storage (CCS) solutions to the climate change problem - a multifaceted approach helping Canada and the world transition into a net-zero emission future. Geothermal energy: As of 2020 Canada generates no large-scale electrical power from geothermal systems. Recent US Geological Survey estimates have indicated that there may be as much as 30GWe of undiscovered hydrothermal resources (enough electricity for about 30 million North American households) and over 500GWe of enhanced geothermal system (EGS) resources in the United States, but whether similar potential exists in Canada remains to be seen. New EM methods developed specifically for geothermal exploration and EGS characterization will improve resource estimations and in the long run, impact the domestic energy mix. Critical minerals: Canada has long been a leader in mineral exploration and has a significant green energy-enabling critical mineral resource potential. Rapid and cost effective innovative EM exploration techniques will lead to new domestic discoveries and ultimately benefit the Canadian economy, particularly in light of the recently finalized Canada-U.S. Joint Action Plan on Critical Minerals Collaboration. Carbon capture & storage: With several large-scale commercial and demonstration projects underway in Canada, there is a need for monitoring technologies to ensure that CO2 does not leak or seep to surface after storage. Unique subsurface imaging solutions including time-lapse EM surveys will impact energy policy by enabling compliance monitoring of legislated emissions guidelines. Many research groups have used geophysical measurements to demonstrate the severity of climate change. However, research programs specifically focused on enabling solutions to the climate change problem using applied geophysics are far less common. There is an opportunity to advance domestic green energy interests using electromagnetics, and the first 5 years of my research program will use numerical models to study a suite of novel EM imaging methods - each tailored towards one of the carbon-neutral applications described above. The outcomes of this modelling work will guide future prototype field experiments, leading to the use of new exploration technologies for net-zero resources in Canada and around the globe.