Geothermal Development in Iceland 2015-2019

Abstract

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 61%. 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, industrial process heat, greenhouses, aquaculture and soil warming. The geothermal fluid is also a source of silica and salts for skin care products and liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) for soft drinks, greenhouses and industry. The total direct use of geothermal energy in 2018 is estimated to have been 9,528 GWhth (34,300 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 753 MWe and the total generation in 2018 was 5,170 GWhe, which is 27% of the electricity produced in the country.