Carbfix and sulfix in geothermal production, and the Blue lagoon in Iceland: Grindavík urban settlement, and volcanic activity

• Published in: Baltic Journal of Economic Studies
• Main Authors: Kristjánsdóttir, Helga, Kristjansdottir, Sigridur
• Other Authors: Faculty of Planning and Design, School of Business and Science
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: Jarðhiti; Gróðurhúsalofttegundir; Eldfjöll; Greenhouse gas emissions; hydrogen sulphide; SulFix; carbon dioxide; geothermal energy; CO2 fixation; CarbFix; carbon capture and storage; trade; urban planning; volcanic activity; SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy; SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities; SDG 5 - Gender Equality; SDG 13 - Climate Action; SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation; SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth; SDG 1 - No Poverty; SDG 9 - Industry; Innovation; and Infrastructure; Blue Lagoon; Grindavík; Reykjanes; Iceland
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11815/2771; https://doi.org/10.30525/2256-0742/2021-7-1-1-9

This article analyses ways to maintain reservoir sustainability in the area surrounding the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, near the urban settlement of Grindavík on the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland. The Svartsengi geothermal power plant operations have pioneered the simultaneous production of electricity and hot water from a geothermal reservoir. The Blue Lagoon is a warm geothermal pool using brine from the power plant. This paper reports on the processes and procedures at the Blue Lagoon and the Svartsengi power station, aimed at increasing sustainability of the geothermal resource by injecting the geothermal brine back to ground, to ensure the geothermal resource sustainability in the area. This paper also discusses and explains in details the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from geothermal plant operations in Iceland. When the steam from a geothermal reservoir emerges from the ground, it comes up with enough energy to drive turbine generators for electricity production. However, this involves releasing several greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, including hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and carbon dioxide (CO2). This research spotlights a geothermal power plant in Hellisheiði, Iceland, and the use of the CarbFix procedure of capturing and storing carbon dioxide, reducing CO2 emissions from the harnessing of geothermal resources for electricity. CarbFix is a carbon capture and storage (CCS) or carbon mineralization procedure aimed at binding CO2 to rock. This procedure has been used at Hellisheiði power plant for the past decade in Iceland. Scientists have also developed the SulFix procedure, to capture sulphate H2S in ground. These procedures, SulFix and CarbFix, reduce outlet of greenhouse gases by storing them in basalt rock – also referred to as mineral carbonation or carbon capture and storage. This involves dissolving the greenhouse gases in water, and re-injecting them back into the ground through boreholes, in Hellisheiði. This current research also shows the geology in these areas and reports on ...