pvald ehf pvald.com The social impact of geothermal - how would Iceland be without geothermal utilization? Dr. Páll Valdimarsson pvald ehf and Reykjavik University

pvald ehf pvald.com Icelandic farmstead, 1920?... Iceland was a poor third world country 70 years ago Direct use of geothermal heat is one of the main factors in our transition to the 20th century!

pvald ehf pvald.com Reykjavík 1940, coal heating

pvald ehf pvald.com What do we get from geothermal? Heating of our homes (including tap water) Considerable part of electricity generated Spa and swimming pool culture Greenhouses – Icelandic tomatoes all year Aquaculture Industrial use.

pvald ehf pvald.com Social effects Heating is cheap, - no need to worry An Icelander often does not know his heating cost – it is under the radar Indoor temperature is usually high – nice in cold and wet climate Wasteful control – control temperature by opening the windows Hot pot in the backyard Migration to geothermal district heating areas Electricity for heating of buildings is state subventioned The search term “jöfnun húshitunarkostnaðar” (equalization of heating cost) gives hits on Google.

pvald ehf pvald.com The history Snorri Sturluson ( ) Heating of buildings starts late 1800’s District heating in Reykjavik from 1930

Strainer Volume meter Manual control valve Tap water pipe Selfoss, 1949

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Heating cost Floor area 200 m2 Heated volume 600 m 3 62,56 € 70,40 US $ Newspaper is 5.613,00 ISK or € 39,90 or US $ 44,90

pvald ehf pvald.com Swimming pools and bathing Bathing in natural pools has been done since the land was settled A natural pool is heaven after a few wet, cold and sweaty hiking days…

pvald ehf pvald.com Reykjanes, Ísafjarðardjúp Salt production Boarding school 1934 – 1990 Road connection around 1950 Swimming pool from 1853.

pvald ehf pvald.com Swimming pools today There are 170 swimming pools in the country The average citizen in Reykjavík goes 15 times a year to a swimming pool Certainly important for the quality of life The hot pot is the place for gossip!

pvald ehf pvald.com The future Have we built the last geothermal power plant in Iceland? The home market for the geothermal industry will diminish (disappear?) The home market will be mostly related to operations and maintenance Around 90% of all buildings in the country are already heated by geothermal district heating – not much room for expansion there The future of the Icelandic geothermal industry is abroad.

pvald ehf pvald.com Iceland without geothermal Buildings will be heated with electricity Ground source heat pumps will be feasible Investment in a ground source heat pump system may be around USD ,-, resulting in annual fixed capital cost of USD 2 – 3 000,- per household The heating load is seasonal and has low utilization factor Price of electricity will rise dramatically The luxury of affording to waste heat in our homes will disappear The swimming pool culture will disappear.

pvald ehf pvald.com Electricity needed for heating All the hydro power plants together are not sufficient to heat the buildings in the country with direct electric heating on the coldest day There would be a huge surplus of electricity from the hydro power plants during summer – which would be very difficult to sell Installation of ground source heat pumps would reduce the power needed to about one-third – but that requires still almost half of all hydro power plants in the country …which may make fossil fuel fired power and heat feasible!!

pvald ehf pvald.com Coal fired cogeneration plant for Reykjavik A coal fired power plant in Geldinganes is a possibility… Such a plant will produce heat during winter to heat the city …but will also be able to produce electricity at relatively low price at the same time …when the hydro power plants have low production.

Geldinganes Harpa Photo

pvald ehf pvald.com Heizkraftwerk Wuppertal-Elberfeld Electricity 100 MW, heat 200 MW Reykjavík needs ca 180 MW electricity and 700 MW heat It is likely that two such plants could be sufficient A (necessary) coal harbor and coal depot is not shown The coal depot will probably contain coal for a full winter.

pvald ehf pvald.com Geothermal is of immense importance to us Heating with oil would need some kg per capita This corresponds to a typical family car driven km/year If the yearly district heating water sales of Veitur ( m 3 ) were put in a swimming pool 1 m deep and 30 m wide …then it would have to be km long!!