Geothermal Energy in

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  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 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 Authority established  1970s: Rise in prices  Beginning of 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 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  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  Partnerships around the world to share expertise and developments  “Unlimited” resources  Exploration of uses of  Hydrogen stations SOCIAL & ECONOMIC BENEFITS  Recreation & Tourism  Blue Lagoon and other spas  Whale watching  Oil boats used due to less oil importing  Sight seeing  WHAT MAKES THIS “GREEN”?  Use of natural resources  Unlimited  Renewable  No air pollution  No green house gases emission WHAT MAKES THIS “GREEN”?  Less use of coal & oil  Plans for 100% fossil- 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!