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TRANSCRIPT
Geothermal Energy in Iceland
Kaeo Ahu
CEE 491
Spring 2009
Final Presentation
HISTORY & BACKGROUND� Iceland is the 2nd largest island in
Europe� Located in the North Atlantic Ocean,
near the Arctic Circle
� Has unique geological conditions� Has unique geological conditions� Lies on the boundary of two tectonic
plates called the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
� Also lies above a hot-spot called the Icelandic Plume
� Creating the availability of geothermal resources
HISTORY & BACKGROUND� Iceland’s first settlers used geothermal springs for bathing, cooking &
laundering� Iceland’s capital named Reykjavik or “Smokey Bay” after the “smokey”
steam from hot springs
� 1755-1756: First wells for hot water in Reykjavik and Krisuvik
� 1907: Farmer conveyed steam through concrete pipe to heat home
� 1920s: First boreholes drilled for water to heat spaces
� 1930: First building to be heated by geothermal water -Austurbacjarskoli, a primary school
HISTORY & BACKGROUND� 1940s: State Electricity Authority established
� 1970s: Rise in oil prices� Beginning of geothermal power plant construction
USES & TECHNOLOGY� Main uses are to produce &
provide the country with:
� Electricity
� Heat
� Hot water
USES & TECHNOLOGY� Bore holes are drilled to capture
steam from the earth and volcanoes
� The steam flows through pipes � The steam flows through pipes to the power plants, turning turbines to create electricity
� Steam also flow through pipes to heat buildings and water
MAGNITUDES & COSTS� Iceland has five major geothermal power plants (GPP)
� Two produce electric and thermal energy
� Three produce only electricity
� Together provides 27% of country’s electricity and heat & hot water to 87% of the country
Electricity (Mwe)Thermal (MWt)
Svartsengi Power-Plant 76.5 80
Nesjavellir Power-Plant 120 400
Krafla Power-Plant 60
Reykjanes Power-Plant 100
Hellisheidi Power-Plant 214
MAGNITUDES & COSTS
� Capital costs of GPPs tend to be high
� Exploring resources have high financial risks
� Drilling accounts for most of cost(s) of GPPs
General construction costs� General construction costs
� 2-5 million € per MW of capacity ($2.7-$6.7 million)
� $1.14 - $2.85 billion (Electric)
� $960 million - $2.4 billion (Thermal)
� General operational costs
� 0.04-0.10 € per kWh
SOCIAL & ECONOMIC BENEFITS� Global leaders in renewable
energy
� Partnerships around the world to share expertise and developmentsdevelopments
� “Unlimited” resources
� Exploration of uses of hydrogen
� Hydrogen stations
SOCIAL & ECONOMIC BENEFITS� Recreation & Tourism
� Blue Lagoon and other spas
� Whale watching
� Oil boats used due to less oil importingoil importing
� Sight seeing
� Geysers
WHAT MAKES THIS “GREEN”?� Use of natural resources
� Unlimited
� Renewable
� No air pollution� No air pollution
� No green house gases emission
WHAT MAKES THIS “GREEN”?� Less use of coal & oil
� Plans for 100% fossil-fuel free
PROBLEMS & CHALLENGES� Financial risks in exploring
deep resources
� Drilling bore holes extremely dangerous
� Explosion in 1970s created Crater Viti or “Manmade Hell”
Thank You!