The purpose of the project is, on the one hand, to expand the production area in Hverahlíð to maintain the production capacity of the Hellisheiði Power Plant and, on the other hand, to investigate how far south along Norðurhálsar and in Meitlar usable geothermal heat can be found to meet the increased demand for hot water and electricity.
Geothermal energy
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Due to the country's location on the border of two tectonic plates, Iceland is rich in geothermal energy.
It is believed that Reykjavík gets its name from the steam that rose from the geothermal areas in Laugardalur. Just east of the capital lies a volcanic belt that is harnessed by power plants at Nesjavellir and Hellisheiði. Geothermal heat is a renewable resource. Care must be taken to ensure that its utilization in each location is not too aggressive in relation to how fast it is renewed.
The utilization of geothermal energy comes with the responsibility of ensuring it has the least possible negative impact on the environment and ecosystems. To this end, we consult with a number of stakeholders in the power plant's operations.
Water is needed for heat to be transferred from the Earth's crust to the surface. Most of the country's district heating systems use geothermal water directly from the ground. This is how the water from the Þvottalaugar hot springs in Laugardalur was first used to heat houses in Reykjavík in 1930. Within the volcanic zone, geothermal steam is used to heat cold water for district heating, but the steam is also used for electricity generation.
The utility company has secured geothermal rights in many areas to fulfill its role, with district heating being the most extensive utility operation managed by the company. The development and operation of district heating systems are handled by Veitur.
You can read more about the district heating system here.
Geothermal Power Plants of Orka náttúrunnar
In the Hengill area, Orka náttúrunnar operates two of the country's most advanced geothermal power plants in terms of energy efficiency, where both electricity and hot water are produced from the high-temperature resource. The geothermal power plants at Nesjavellir and Hellisheiði were built to meet the growing need for hot water in the community.
The Nesjavellir Power Station, located north of Mount Hengill, produces hot water and electricity. The Hellisheiði Power Station was commissioned in 2006 and also produces hot water and electricity. The electricity from the power station is sold throughout the country, and the hot water produced there is used for district heating for more than half of the capital region.
All excess geothermal water from the Hellisheiði Power Plant normally flows into a reinjection system, down below the groundwater system into the geothermal reservoir. An air purification plant is located at the power plant which utilizes Carbfix A method for cleaning hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide dissolved in geothermal water and fed into a reinjection system.
Read more about Orka náttúrunnar's geothermal power plants here.
The Geothermal Park of Orka náttúrunnar
The utilization of geothermal energy in this country is becoming increasingly diverse. The goal of this diverse utilization is both to make better use of the energy obtained from geothermal areas and to use the substances that come up with the geothermal steam. Orka náttúrunnar operates a special geothermal park at the Hellisheiði Power Station for this purpose.
Orka náttúrunnar's Geothermal Park covers an area of over 100 hectares at the Hellisheiði Power Station. In this green industrial park, we have built a community of progressive companies that understand the importance of circular thinking. In the Geothermal Park, these companies utilize the area's resources in a responsible and profitable way, and this development is still in full swing.