Geothermal electric power in Iceland: Development in perspective

• Main Author: Gudmundsson, Jón Steinar
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Subjects: Iceland
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0360544283900762

Geothermal energy is extensively used in thermal (direct) applications in Iceland. More than 70% of the total population enjoy geothermal district heating. Hydro-power provides most of the electricity generated in Iceland, with less than 10% of the potential harnessed. Iceland is well endowed with both geothermal (high- and low-temperature) and hydro-power resources. At the end of 1980, the installed geothermal power in Iceland was 818 MW1 in direct applications and 41 MWe in electric power generation. This exploitation represents a few percent of the estimated geothermal resources of Iceland. Plans to develop geothermal electric power in Iceland date back to the early 1960s. The first geothermal electric power plant (3 MWe) was installed in 1969. In recent years, several small-scale (two 1 MWe and one 6 MWe) geothermal power units have been installed in a cogeneration plant for district heating purposes. There is one major (30 MWe) geothermal electric power plant in Iceland, which became operational in 1978. Hydro-power, geothermal energy and oil provide consumers in Iceland with about 18, 38, and 44% of their energy needs, respectively.