Wind Power at Dyravegur
Reykjavík Energy is currently working on the installation of a 120-meter-high wind measurement mast by Dyravegur in Ölfus. Measurements from the mast are a prerequisite for making an informed decision on whether conditions in the area are suitable for wind power generation. The research will last for up to two years. In addition to measuring wind conditions, visual impact, and acoustics, studies will be conducted on environmental risks and the impact on the local environment and ecosystem. Special studies on birdlife in the area are also underway in collaboration with experts in that field.
In connection with the project, a track has been laid which is necessary to transport equipment to the area and meet safety requirements for the installation of the mast. The work is being carried out with a permit from the Municipality of Ölfus.
Minimize environmental disruption as much as possible
The track was constructed using a special method developed by Reykjavik Energy and used, among other places, during construction in the power plant areas near Hengill. The method aims to minimize environmental disturbance as much as possible by utilizing the existing soil and vegetation and avoiding disruption to sensitive areas. The track is slightly excavated so that it blends in with the landscape as much as possible. The vegetation cover is set aside during construction and then replaced on the road verges, where it covers the road shoulders and is used for surface finishing around the track.
Soil that becomes available during the construction will be used for land reclamation in the area.
The wind power option at Dyravegur
The wind power option at Dyravegur is one of three wind power options that Reykjavík Energy is considering at Hellisheiði.
The utility company submitted a request for an assessment of the energy options to the Environment and Energy Agency, which forwarded them for consideration by the Master Plan project management team, which will evaluate them and classify them into pending, protection, or energy utilisation categories. The project management team's conclusion is awaited.
Research into the other energy options is at a much earlier stage, and each would undergo a separate environmental assessment if it came to that. The three wind power options are operationally independent of each other, although there may be potential synergistic effects between those identified as Dyravegur and Lyklafell (see picture below).
Key information about the wind power option at Dyravegur
- MunicipalityÖlfus
- Cook: 50 to 108 MW
- Estimated annual energy production capacity: 426 GWh/year
- Number of windmills: 7 - 15 units (with 7.2 MW turbines)
- Height of blade in top position150 - 210 m
- Planned development area: 7.2 km²
Assessment plan – the first step in environmental assessment
Reykjavík Energy submitted at the end of March 2025 Meal plan regarding the wind power project at Dyravegur, which is the first step in the environmental assessment. The assessment plan gave licensing authorities and professional institutions, as well as stakeholders and the public, the opportunity to provide feedback on the project. The deadline for comments expired at the end of last April, and a total of 112 comments were received. The utility company emphasizes maintaining a good and informed dialogue with all stakeholders and strives to gather the opinions and perspectives of as many people as possible, which will be useful for the development and design of the project.
Site selection for potential power plant options
In the development of new energy options, Reykjavík Energy has set the goal of working in as much harmony as possible with society and nature. When selecting locations for wind power options, the aim was to be in proximity to already disturbed areas. Proximity to infrastructure, such as roads and transmission lines, and Reykjavík Energy's existing power plant areas was also considered.
The site selection also took into account the impact on birdlife and natural heritage, as well as limiting the visual impact and noise pollution on unspoiled nature and important tourist and recreational areas.
Site Selection in a Nutshell
- Proximity to already disturbed areas
- Proximity to the distribution and transmission system and the operating area of Orkuveitan or its subsidiaries
- Limited impact on birdlife and natural heritage
- Limited visual impact and noise pollution at important tourist and recreational sites as well as in nature
Increased demand for renewable energy
Demand for renewable energy has increased significantly in recent years, both due to population growth and urban expansion, but not least because of the government's climate goals. Reykjavík Energy's resources have a finite lifespan, and without targeted measures, the production capacity of current energy options will decrease over time. It is therefore urgent to consider diverse solutions for energy production and to utilize the opportunities that renewable energy sources offer. The energy transition is one of the biggest and most important tasks of our generation in the fight against the climate crisis. To meet the demanding challenges of the energy transition, it is necessary to increase the production of renewable electricity, and wind power can play a key role in this.
Publicly owned energy company
Reykjavík Energy is a publicly owned energy and utility company that has been a pillar of energy production for society for decades. Reykjavík Energy's role is to maximize the yield from the energy resources entrusted to the company through sustainable use, value creation, and efficiency. In light of the increased need and demand for green energy, it is not only responsible but also necessary to seek further energy options, and wind power seems to be a good fit.
As a publicly owned company, Reykjavík Energy is aware of the responsibility that comes with supplying energy to the community. We want to ensure that energy production is carried out with the interests of the public and the environment as guiding principles. Therefore, Reykjavík Energy places great emphasis on consultation and cooperation with municipalities, the government, and the public in the development and implementation of such projects.
Environmental protection and sustainability are guiding principles in all our operations, now as before. We have set strict requirements for environmental protection in our projects and resource utilization, and we are very careful in how we use our land for energy production.
The Reykjavík Energy utility points out that work on the Master Plan is based on a statutory process where proposals are, among other things, assessed by expert groups of the Master Plan's project management team. The process is based on extensive consultation, and in accordance with the Act on the Master Plan (Act No. 48/2011), the project management team must, among other things, consult with public institutions, stakeholders, and non-governmental organisations.
Questions and Answers
On Mosfellsheiði
More detailed answer:
Dyravegur is located on Mosfellsheiði, within the municipality of Ölfus. The area is approximately 8 km from both the Nesjavellir Power Plant and the Hellisheiði Power Plant, as well as being near Nesjavallavegur road, high-voltage power lines, and the geothermal pipeline from Nesjavellir. The area is therefore within a region generally considered to be disturbed by human activity, such as with visible man-made structures and in proximity to distribution networks and the operational area of Reykjavik Energy.
A 120-meter research mast that analyzes wind conditions. The mast will stand for two years.
More detailed answer:
At Dyravegur, wind conditions will be studied and data collected that is necessary for preparing for the harnessing of wind power. A 120-meter measuring mast will be erected, which will stand for 2 years and then be taken down. The installation of the mast will take about 2-4 weeks. The results of this research will be used to assess the feasibility and design of wind turbines.
In parallel with wind measurements, detailed studies on potential environmental impacts need to be undertaken. It is estimated that such studies will take 2 years.
When selecting the site, environmental factors were taken into account, and an area was chosen that was already disturbed and close to infrastructure such as roads and transmission lines.
More detailed answer:
In developing new energy options, Reykjavík Energy has set the goal of working in the greatest possible harmony with society and nature. When selecting a location, the emphasis was on being in proximity to already disturbed areas to minimize the impact on the environment, nature, and wildlife, as well as the visual impact on important nature, tourist, and outdoor recreation areas.
The energy option must be approved in the utilization category of the Master Plan for Nature Protection and Energy Utilization. In addition, detailed studies must be carried out to assess its impact on the environment and the local community, as well as the project's feasibility.
More detailed answer:
Through the Master Plan for Nature Protection and Energy Utilization, areas in Iceland are examined and classified according to their value. Areas that fall into the utilization category are considered well-suited for energy production. However, even if an area is classified in the utilization category, research and assessment of the area must still be carried out before a decision on development is made. A wind farm at Dyravegur has been submitted for consideration to the project management of the Master Plan. If the energy option is classified in the utilization category, detailed research will be conducted before a decision on development is made. Before a decision on implementation is taken, it is necessary to undertake detailed research and assess the impact on nature, the local environment, and the community, in addition to assessing the project's feasibility. Finally, the municipality's master plan needs to be amended and a local plan developed.
The Master Plan is a tool to resolve disputes about the use and protection of the country's energy resources.
More detailed answer:
Iceland's nature holds a wealth of resources. These include uninhabited wilderness, geothermal heat and mighty rivers, volcanoes and sandy deserts, forests and lush wetlands, wind, extreme weather, and silence. The demand for these resources from various groups is significant and growing. The interests of these groups often overlap, which has led to conflicts over the use of the land.
A master plan is a tool to resolve these disputes, and also a synonym for certain Law, Process and Methodology that have evolved in tandem over time to solve this task in the most successful way possible"
From the Master Plan website ramma.is
The power company has submitted the energy option to the Environment and Energy Agency, which forwarded it to the project management of the framework plan. The results from the project management are awaited.
More detailed answer:
In the work on the fourth and fifth phases of the Master Plan for Nature Protection and Energy Utilisation, hereinafter referred to as the Master Plan, energy companies were given the opportunity to submit requests for power plant options to the Environment and Energy Agency, which then assesses the options. If sufficient information is available and the Environment and Energy Agency considers them to be sufficiently defined, the power plant options are submitted for consideration by the Master Plan's project board. The project board then discusses the power plant options and the relevant land areas. The project board's expert groups then take them for further discussion, each in their own field, assess them and return them to the project board, which evaluates the options and categorises them into the pending, protection or energy utilisation category. Otherwise, the procedure and working methods of the project board are governed by Article 10 of Act No. 48/2011, on the Master Plan for Nature Protection and Energy Utilisation.
To assess the impact of a potential power plant option on the environment.
More detailed answer:
An environmental impact assessment of a project involves assessing and providing information on the likely environmental effects of specific projects. The effects are analyzed, their significance is assessed, and proposals are made on how to respond to them. The environmental assessment process begins with the preparation of an assessment plan, in which the developer describes how they intend to assess the environmental impact of the project. The assessment plan is then submitted to the National Planning Agency for an opinion. Subsequently, the agency will publish the plan and seek comments. The publication gives stakeholders and interested parties an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the proposed project and to submit comments to the developer. The environmental assessment process concludes with an opinion from the National Planning Agency, which states whether the environmental impact of the project and the mitigation measures are considered acceptable or not. The environmental assessment will then state the conditions and limitations that the developer must meet if the project is carried out.
150 meters when the blades are in their highest position.
More detailed answer:
The assessment plan assumes that the blades can reach a maximum height of up to 210 metres. However, it is more likely that the blades will be at a maximum height of 150 metres. The final height will be determined by wind measurements and the progress of the project. If an environmental impact assessment is carried out, maps and images will be produced to provide a clear picture of the wind turbines' visibility.
Yes, wind turbines do make a sound. It is estimated that the sound level is around 80 dB when standing directly under a wind turbine, but about 40 dB at a distance of 400 meters, which is equivalent to the sound of a conventional refrigerator.
More detailed answer:
Wind turbines affect acoustics, but this has been reduced in recent years with further development and design of wind turbines. To assess the acoustic impact in the immediate vicinity of the wind power option, an acoustic map has been created, but the final arrangement, number, type, and size of the wind turbines will affect the sound level. If you stand underneath a wind turbine, the sound level from it should be around 80 dB, which is equivalent to the noise from a vacuum cleaner. As one might expect, the sound level decreases with distance and is estimated to be around 50 dB at a distance of 100 meters, which corresponds to the sound of a microwave oven, and around 40 dB at a distance of 400 meters, which is equivalent to the sound of a standard refrigerator.
Up to 15 in total.
More detailed answer:
The final number of wind turbines has not been determined, should the project go ahead. The assessment plan provides for up to 15 wind turbines, but research and wind measurements, as well as the feasibility and viability of the wind power options, will determine the final number.
Increased demand for green energy.
More detailed answer:
In light of population growth, urban development, and increased demand for green energy, it is crucial to consider diverse solutions for energy generation and to utilize the opportunities offered by renewable energy sources. Orkuveitan's policy is to significantly increase sustainable and diverse energy production in targeted steps, and wind power seems well-suited for this purpose. The current energy system will not support population development and infrastructure growth in the coming decades, nor will it be able to fulfill the government's policy on energy transition in the fight against the climate crisis. Geothermal and hydropower have long been strong pillars in Orkuveitan's energy generation, but they are not inexhaustible. It takes a long time to prepare new geothermal and hydropower options, so it is necessary to look at more solutions. Wind power could relieve the current energy system and enable us to better utilize our resources, with a more stable and cost-effective electricity production in the long term.
By increasing renewable energy options, we strengthen energy security and promote climate-friendly solutions. Wind power can play a key role in creating a more diverse, secure, and environmentally friendly energy system – for future generations.
Yes, wind power is considered a cost-effective energy option.
More detailed answer:
Wind power is generally considered a cost-effective energy option, but its cost-effectiveness can vary depending on the circumstances. Factors such as wind speed, access to wind farm areas, market conditions, systems, and technological advancements have a significant impact on how cost-effective it is in any given location.
No, a decision has not been made to proceed at this stage.
More detailed answer:
A decision on whether to develop the area has not yet been made. A prerequisite for a decision to develop is that the power plant option is placed in the utilisation category of the Master Plan for Nature Protection and Energy Utilisation. Before a decision is made, it is necessary to undertake detailed research to assess the impact on nature, the local environment, and the community, as well as to assess the project's feasibility and make changes to the municipality's zoning plan. The wind power project begins with wind measurements, which will provide data and information on potential feasibility and profitability, thus supporting informed decision-making going forward.