Geothermal Energy Use, Country Update for Iceland

Abstract

The geothermal resources play a major role in the energy supply of Iceland. They are utilized both for electricity generation and direct heat application. The share of geothermal energy in the nation´s primary energy supply is 66%. Space heating is the most important direct utilization of geothermal energy in Iceland, covering 90% of all energy used for house heating in the country. Other sectors of direct use are swimming pools, snow melting, industry, greenhouses and aquaculture. The total direct use of geothermal energy in 2015 is estimated to be 7,676 GWhth (27,634 TJ). Generation of electricity by geothermal energy has been increasing during the past two decades, mainly due to increased demand in the energy intensive industry. The total installed capacity is now 663 MWe and the total generation in 2015 was 5,003 GWhe, which is 26.6% of the total produced in the country.