Geothermal Energy Use, Country Update for Iceland

Abstract

Iceland´s geological characteristics have endowed the country with an abundant supply of geothermal resources. The geothermal resources are utilized both for electricity generation and direct heat application. The share of geothermal energy in the nation´s primary energy supply is 69.2%. Space heating is the most important direct utilization of geothermal energy in Iceland, covering 90% of all houses in the country. Other sectors of direct use are swimming pools, snow melting, industry, greenhouses and fish farming. The total direct use of geothermal energy was estimated to be 25,277 TJ (7,021 GWh) in 2011. Generation of electricity by geothermal energy has been increasing during the past 15 years, mainly due to increased demand in the energy intensive industry. The total installed capacity is now 660 MWe and the annual generation in 2012 was 5,210 GWh, which is 30% of the total produced in the country.