1. Geothermal Energy in Iceland

2. GEOTHERMAL ENERGY HAS BEEN IMPORTANT FOR
THE PEOPLE OF ICELAND FOR MANY DECADES
▪ During Reykjavik’s first 1000 years geothermal heat
was primarily used for washing, bathing and cooking.
▪ The first uses of geothermal energy to heat houses
can be traced back to a farmer in 1908 who led a pipe
to his farm.
▪ Extensive distribution of hot water for heating homes
A borehole at Sudurreykir. The houses in
the background are the ones first heated
with geothermal water in Iceland in 1908.
began in 1930 in the capital area.
▪ The first hydropower turbine began operation in 1904.

3. Geothermal Fields in Iceland
Tavg = 0°C (january) to 10°C (july) in Reykjavík

4. Primary Energy Use

5. Avoided cost by harnessing a domisic renewable source of energy in
Savings in 2008 equivalent to 91% of the total imports of refined oil products.
energy in
Iceland

6. Highlights for Icelandic energy use
▪ All stationary energy is renewable
▪ 86% of primary energy is renewable
▪ Oil still needed for 14% of the primary energy
demand
▪ About half to operate the fishing fleet
▪ The other half mainly for motor vehicles
▪ Electricity generation amounted to 17.2 TWh
▪ Hydro power plants 73%
▪ Geothermal power plants 27%
▪ 77% to the power intensive industry
▪ 99% of houses heated with renewables

7. Geothermal Energy Utilisation
Sectoral Share 2014

8. Electricity Generation and Use in Iceland 2014
Wind
3 MWe
8 GWh
General use 3 TWh 17%
Large industries 14 TWh 77%
Losses & plant use 1 TWh 5%
Fossil fuels
106 MWe
2GWh
Hydropower
1986 MWe
12,9 TWh
71%
Geothermal
665 MWe
5,2 TWh
29%

9. INNOVATION – ENTREPRENEURSHIP
THE UTILIZATION REQUIRES INTERDISCIPLINARY
APPROACH
▪ PROFESSIONS
▪ Geology
• UNIVERSITIES AND TRAINING CENTRES
– Education and academic research
▪ Geophysics
▪ Geochemistry •
RESEARCH ORGANISATION
– Fundamental research and consultancy
▪ Chemical Engineering
▪ Mechanical Engineering
▪ Environmental Engineering
▪ Biology
• ENGINEERING FIRMS
– Design and consultancy
• ENERGY COMPANIES
– Utilization and sale
▪ Technicians and others.....
INNOVATION – ENTREPRENEURSHIP 9

10. between different sectors in Iceland
Research
institutes
Long tradition of
cooperation
Universities
between different sectors in
Iceland
- Vision of increased geothermal
utilization
- Open access and sharing to data
- Extensive research cooperation
Engineering
firms
Private
sector
Public
authorities
Energy
companies

11. International cluster cooperation on Geothermal research
Non-profit association
22 international partners

12. 12

14. GEORG Team Hjalti Alicja son e-mail: hpi@georg.cluster.is
Tel:
Alicja
son
GEORG Team