geothermal development and research in iceland - Orkustofnun

Oddur Sigurðsson Oddur Sigurðsson
system is designed for a heat output of 180 W per
m 2 surface area. Iceland’s total area of snow melting
systems is around 740,000 m 2 , of which about
550,000 m 2 is in Reykjavik. The annual energy consumption
depends on the weather conditions, but
the average is estimated to be 430 kWh/m 2 . The
total geothermal energy used for snow melting is
estimated to be 1,150 TJ per year. Over half of this
energy comes from return water from space heating
systems.
4.3.6 Heat Pumps
Until recently, geothermal energy has been economically
feasible only in areas where thermal
Heated parking space at Perlan, Reykjavik
water or steam is concentrated at depths less
than 3 km in restricted volumes, analogous to oil
in commercial oil reservoirs. The use of ground
source heat pumps has changed the economic
norms. In this case, the earth is the heat source for
the heating and/or the heat sink for cooling, depending
on the season. This has made it possible
for people in all countries to use the earth’s heat
for heating and/or cooling. It should be stressed
that heat pumps can be used basically anywhere.
The significant fluctuations of oil prices caused by
political unrest in key oil producing regions should
encourage governments to focus on indigenous
energy sources to meet their basic energy requirements.
Recent developments in the deregulation
Pipe system for snow melting
of the electricity markets and integration of the
electricity networks in Europe have destabilized
consumer electricity prices. This makes ground
source heat pumps a favorable alternative for base load heat sources in countries
where electric heating is common.
Heat pumps have not found much use in Iceland, since sufficient cheap geothermal
water for space heating is commonly available. However the Akureyri District Heating
did install two 1.9 MW t
heat pumps between 1980 and 1984 to utilize the waste
heat in return water from the distribution system while exploration for additional
geothermal water was undertaken. It is considered likely that heat pumps will become
competitive in the areas of the country where water above 50°C is not found.
In these places, heat pumps can be used to raise the temperature of warm springs
instead of direct electrical heating.
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