Geothermal power in Iceland

Geothermal borehole outside the Reykjanes Power Station

Geothermal power in Iceland refers to the use of geothermal energy in Iceland for electricity generation.

Iceland's uniquely active geology has led to natural conditions especially suitable for harnessing geothermal energy.^[1] Icelanders have long used geothermal energy for direct applications, such as heating homes and baths.^[2] The more recent, widespread adoption of geothermal energy as an energy source in Iceland was spawned by a need to stabilize energy prices and increase energy independence, allowing Iceland to increase reliance on geothermal energy for direct applications alongside electricity generation and contributing significantly to diminishing Iceland's carbon footprint.^[3]

The growth of geothermal power in Iceland is due to its continued support from the Icelandic government.^[4] As of 2020, Iceland’s installed geothermal power production capacity is 799 megawatts (MW).^[5] Geothermal energy produces over a quarter of Iceland's total electricity.^[4]

^ Mims, Christopher (20 October 2008). "One Hot Island: Iceland's Renewable Geothermal Power". Scientific American. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
^ Kristjánsdóttir, Helga (2015), Kristjánsdóttir, Helga (ed.), "The Geothermal Source", Sustainable Energy Resources and Economics in Iceland and Greenland, SpringerBriefs in Energy, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 41–63, doi:10.1007/978-3-319-15174-8_5, ISBN 978-3-319-15174-8, retrieved 25 October 2022
^ Melsted, Odinn (2 October 2021). "Eliminating fossil fuels: Iceland's transition from coal and oil to geothermal district heating, 1930–1980". History and Technology. 37 (4): 527–547. doi:10.1080/07341512.2022.2033386. ISSN 0734-1512. S2CID 247257599.
^ ^a ^b "Geothermal". National Energy Authority of Iceland. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
^ "Energy Statistics in Iceland 2020" (PDF). Orkustofnun. September 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2022.

[:72-1] Mims, Christopher (20 October 2008). "One Hot Island: Iceland's Renewable Geothermal Power". Scientific American. Retrieved 25 October 2022.

[:02-2] Kristjánsdóttir, Helga (2015), Kristjánsdóttir, Helga (ed.), "The Geothermal Source", Sustainable Energy Resources and Economics in Iceland and Greenland, SpringerBriefs in Energy, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 41–63, doi:10.1007/978-3-319-15174-8_5, ISBN 978-3-319-15174-8, retrieved 25 October 2022

[:22-3] Melsted, Odinn (2 October 2021). "Eliminating fossil fuels: Iceland's transition from coal and oil to geothermal district heating, 1930–1980". History and Technology. 37 (4): 527–547. doi:10.1080/07341512.2022.2033386. ISSN 0734-1512. S2CID 247257599.

[:142-4] "Geothermal". National Energy Authority of Iceland. Retrieved 4 November 2022.

[:92-5] "Energy Statistics in Iceland 2020" (PDF). Orkustofnun. September 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2022.

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