ENERGY IN ICELAND - Orkustofnun

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3 <strong>ENERGY</strong>RESOURCESEnergy reservesOddur SigurðssonIceland has abundant renewable energyresources, both geothermal andhydro. Despite the fact that Icelandpossesses extensive unexploited renewableenergy resources, they arenot unlimited. Only rough estimatesare available on the size of Iceland’senergy reserves. Therefore, there isconsiderable uncertainty involvedin assessing to what extent they canbe harnessed with regards to whatA mudpool.is technically feasible, cost-efficient,and environmentally desirable. Theestimated figures generally proposed for hydropower are 30 TWh annually. For electricityproduction from geothermal resources the figure is 20 TWh annually, giving atotal of 50 TWh per year. These estimates do not include resources that are unlikelyto be developed for environmental reasons or due to prohibitive cost. The estimate,however, does include resources that are currently being utilized.It should, however, be noted that environmental desirability estimates are subjective,and the 30 TWh figure quoted above for hydropower might be an overstatement. Onthe other hand, with technological advances in the harnessing of geothermal powerfor the production of electricity, it is likely that the 20 TWh figure is understated. Thenet result, 50 TWh per year, can therefore be considered a reasonable estimate. Oneof the objectives of the so-called Framework Programme for utilization of Hydro andGeothermal Energy Resources, discussed further in chapter 5, is to evaluate theseresources in more detail.14
Figure 2. Hydropower derived from precipitation in Iceland.HydropowerIceland’s precipitation has an enormous energy potential. Much of it is stored in icecaps and groundwater, and dissipated by evaporation, groundwater flow and glacierflow. In addition, about one-half of the total rainfall is widely distributed, not precipitatingin one area, and therefore does not end up as a useful energy source. However,almost one-quarter remains, from which it is considered technically possible to produce64 TWh annually. As previously mentioned, it is generally estimated that lessthan one-half of this energy can be utilized in a cost-effective and environmentallyfriendly manner, taking into account the experience of other countries in recent decades.Figure 2 shows the primary hydropower resources in Iceland.The hydropower plants in Iceland have been mainly concentrated in the most denselypopulated southwestern part of the country. The two aluminum plants, ISAL andCentury Aluminum (Nordural), are situated near the capital. The Karahnjukar powerplant, currently being constructed in the eastern part of the country, is 690 MW andwill add substantially to the country’s electricity production, see Figure 3. It will servethe aluminum plant Alcoa Fjardaal, situated in Reydarfjordur.Geothermal powerThe geothermal resources in Iceland are closely associated with the country’s volcanism,and its location on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.The high-temperature resources are located within Iceland’s active volcanic zone,running from the southwest to the northeast of the country, while the low-temperatureresources are mainly located in areas flanking the active zone. There are over 60015
Page 1 and 2: ENERGY IN ICELANDHistorical Perspec
Page 3: ENERGY IN ICELANDHistorical Perspec
Page 6 and 7: CONTENTSForeword by the Minister of
Page 8 and 9: 1 IntroductionDuring the past centu
Page 10 and 11: 2 Historical OVERVIEWof Energy Affa
Page 12 and 13: Oddur SigurðssonA hydropower stati
Page 16 and 17: Figure 3. Installed capacity of the
Page 18 and 19: 4 ENERGY usePrimary energy use inin
Page 20 and 21: Oddur SigurðssonHeated parking spa
Page 22 and 23: Helga BarðadóttirThe silica rich
Page 24 and 25: Oddur SigurðssonDuring the Christm
Page 26 and 27: In 1970, the first year that the IS
Page 28 and 29: Iceland New Energyof these gases, s
Page 30 and 31: 5 RegulatorystructureLegislation on
Page 32 and 33: Oddur SigurðssonThe Ferrosilicon p
Page 34 and 35: Energy agencyA step towards bringin
Page 36 and 37: 7 Lookingto the futurePolicy object
Page 38 and 39: which will take at least a decade t
Page 40: Figure 20. Map of Iceland.40

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