What if the answer to the energy transition lay beneath our feet? As the climate crisis intensifies, the potential of the subsurface is emerging as a promising solution — especially for remote communities that still rely heavily on fossil fuels. It is in this context that Professor Jasmin Raymond of the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) has been appointed to the Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Geoenergy Systems Analysis , funded at $1.4 million by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
The Chair aims to accelerate the energy transition and reduce dependence on fossil fuels by advancing innovative geoenergy solutions. It builds on Professor Raymond’s recognized expertise in geothermal energy—used for heating, cooling, and electricity generation—and explores the potential of the Earth’s crust to meet energy needs while minimizing environmental impacts.
Presentation of a brooch to mark the award of the Research Chair. Photo: Professor Jasmin Raymond and Isabelle Delisle, Scientific Director.
His research program combines numerical modelling, geological characterization, and field experimentation in natural laboratory settings, and focuses on three main areas: geothermal energy, green hydrogen storage, and natural hydrogen exploration.
Professor Raymond and his team are exploring the geothermal potential of remote regions, working closely with rural, isolated, and Indigenous communities, particularly in northern Canada. Their research is conducted directly in these communities, with the goal of supporting their energy transition, as many remain heavily reliant on diesel and other fossil fuels.
“Very little scientific research is conducted in these remote communities. They represent markets that are too small to attract major energy industry players. Yet investing in these regions is essential to strengthen their energy sovereignty and reduce the environmental footprint associated with fossil fuel use,”
As scientific lead of the Open Geothermal Laboratory, Professor Raymond is building on successful results obtained in subarctic environments and extending them to more extreme conditions, including the Arctic’s Franklinian Basin.
As part of the Chair, his team is also investigating ways to convert surplus electricity generated from renewable sources, such as wind and solar, into green hydrogen. This approach enables energy storage and contributes to stabilizing energy systems.
The research focuses in particular on the Magdalen Islands, where subsurface salt formations are well suited for the creation of large underground storage caverns.
“The Islands still rely mainly on a thermal power plant for their energy supply, but wind energy is developing rapidly. Our work aims to support this shift by providing an underground storage solution using green hydrogen to ensure a reliable and continuous energy supply,”
Professor Raymond’s team is also investigating naturally occurring geological hydrogen reservoirs—an emerging and highly promising energy resource that could be produced without greenhouse gas emissions.
Research is currently focused on the Mistassini and Otish basins, located north of Chibougamau.
“Natural hydrogen holds significant promise. It could reshape the energy landscape by addressing key challenges of the transition, including the intermittency of renewable energy, long-distance transport needs, and the demands of industrial sectors requiring high-temperature heat,”
By exploring these three pathways, geothermal energy, green hydrogen storage, and natural hydrogen exploration, Professor Raymond and his team aim to contribute actively to climate change mitigation. The Chair will support the development of sustainable geoenergy systems capable of meeting Canada’s environmental, technological, and economic challenges, particularly in remote regions.