Icelandic hydroelectric power stations
Encyclopedia
Over 80% of electricity
in Iceland
is generated in hydroelectric power stations. While geothermal energy is used for heating (and increasingly for electricity generation), the hydroelectric power stations, historically all run by Landsvirkjun
, are central to the existence of Iceland as an industrialized country.
The largest power station by far is Kárahnjúkavirkjun (690 MW), which generates electricity in the area north of Vatnajökull
for the production of aluminum.
Other projects and stations include:
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
in Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
is generated in hydroelectric power stations. While geothermal energy is used for heating (and increasingly for electricity generation), the hydroelectric power stations, historically all run by Landsvirkjun
Landsvirkjun
Landsvirkjun is the largest energy producer in Iceland. It was founded in 1965 by the city of Reykjavík and the state of Iceland. Its general purpose is to produce and provide electricity for heavy industry and to sell electricity to local providers around Iceland...
, are central to the existence of Iceland as an industrialized country.
The largest power station by far is Kárahnjúkavirkjun (690 MW), which generates electricity in the area north of Vatnajökull
Vatnajökull
Vatnajökull is the largest glacier in Iceland. It is located in the south-east of the island, covering more than 8% of the country.-Size:With an area of 8,100 km², Vatnajökull is the largest ice cap in Europe by volume and the second largest in area Vatnajökull is the largest glacier in...
for the production of aluminum.
Other projects and stations include:
- Blöndustöð generates 150 MW
- Búrfellsstöð generates 270 MW
- Hrauneyjafosstöð generates 210 MW
- Laxárstöðvar, on the Laxá River, generates 28 MW
- Sigöldustöð generates 150 MW
- Sogsstöðvar generates 89 MW
- Sultartangastöð generates 120 MW
- VatnsfellsstöðVatnsfell Power StationVatnsfell is an Icelandic hydroelectric power station situated in the Highlands of Iceland, at the south end of lake Þórisvatn, just before the Sprengisandur highland road....
generates 90 MW
See also
- DraumalandiðDraumalandiðDreamland: A Self-Help Manual for a Frightened Nation is a book written by the Icelandic author Andri Snær Magnason.It became the number one best-selling book in Iceland in 2006, and received the Winner of the Icelandic Literary Award, and Winner of the Icelandic Bookseller Prize the same year . ...
[book] - Geothermal power in IcelandGeothermal power in IcelandDue to the special geological location of Iceland, the high concentration of volcanoes in the area is often an advantage in the generation of geothermal energy, the heating and production of electricity...
- HydroelectricityHydroelectricityHydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
- Iceland power outages 2010Iceland power outages 2010The Iceland Power outages 2010 was a massive, widespread power outage that occurred nationwide in Iceland, on Wednesday, September 1, 2010, at approximately 21:00 GMT. At the time, it was one of the most widespread electrical outages in Icelandic history...
- Renewable energy in IcelandRenewable energy in IcelandAbout 81 percent of total primary energy supply in Iceland is derived from domestically produced renewable energy sources. In 2007, geothermal energy provided about 66 percent of primary energy, the share of hydropower was 15 percent, and fossil fuels 19 percent...
- RES - The School for Renewable Energy ScienceRES - The School for Renewable Energy ScienceRES - The School for Renewable Energy Science is a private, non-profit, international graduate school located in the city of Akureyri in northern Iceland and shares its facilities with the University of Akureyri....