Noise Level in the Vicinity of Three Geothermal Power Stations in Northeast Iceland

Abstract

Landsvirkjun, the National Power Company of Iceland, operates three geothermal power stations in Northeast Iceland, in Bjarnarflag, Krafla and Theistareykir. The Bjarnarflag Geothermal Station (3 MW) is located in the Lake Mývatn area and the first of its kind in Iceland. In addition to generating 18 GWh of electricity annually, Bjarnarflag provides steam for the local district heating system and industrial use, as well as geothermal water for the popular Mývatn Nature Baths. At Krafla, high- and lowpressure steam from 18 boreholes drives two 30 MW turbines. Landsvirkjun has conducted years of research on the development of a geothermal power station at Theistareykir. Construction began on the project in 2015 and the 90 MW project was executed in two 45 MW phases. The first turbine began production in 2017 and the second on in 2018. Noise from all these geothermal power stations and in their vicinity have been measured in recent years as a manual and single measurments but since 2014 as a part of a new monitioring plan for the area. The results of these measurements will be presented for all the stations and results also presented before and after startup at Theistareykir. The data is collected with both automatic and hand measurements and the results will be displayed on maps. Also, noise measurements will be compared to wind speed measurements from selected weather stations nearby. Experience of sound measurements over the past 5 years will be discussed along with future methodology.