Potential impact of KMT on extraction of geothermal energy

Sigurdur Markusson

Landsvirkjun - National Power Company of Iceland

Landsvirkjun100% renewable

The Company generates 73%

of Iceland’s electricity and is

owned by the Icelandic state.

2

Sustainable societies driven by volcanos

Harnessing geothermal energy – Possibly the single most influential factor in modernising Iceland

Geothermal Energy is the Backboneof Icelandic Primary Energy Consumption

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PJ

Hydro power

Geothermal energy

• 90% of space heating• 28% of electricity generation

Oil

Source: Orkustofnun

Coal

85

% ren

ewab

le

Quality of life in Iceland induced by geothermal energy

Most homes in Iceland are heated with geothermal energy (>90%)

22°C indoor temperature

Outdoor swimming pools, hot tubs, saunas

Production of greens

Indoor football halls

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1914 1924 1934 1944 1954 1964 1974 1984 1994 2004 2014

USD

bill

ion

s

Developing arctic country

Driven by economic reasons

Saved space heating costsGeothermal Energy vs. Oil

(accumulated)

$1.600 per annum savings per capita

Direct use of geothermal energy in Iceland

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Swimming pools4%

Snow melting4%Industry

2%

Fish farming5%

Greenhouses2%

Electricity generation40%

Space heating43%

Diversified utilization of geothermal energy

District heating

Tourism

Food production

Biotech

Cosmetics

CO2 for industry

Replacing gas for industrial processes

KRAFLA

Krafla geothermal plant

Krafla 60 MW

Double flash

Construction startedin 1975

Krafla Fires

Eruption 1975-84

Gas injection due to degassing magma caused complications

Second turbine installed in 1998

Volcanology and geothermal energy

▪ Where is magma

▪ How to locate magma

▪ Fluid flow near magma

▪ Fluid chemistry

▪ Signals from magma movement/risk

▪ Seismicity

▪ …………….

▪ Where is magma

▪ How to locate magma

▪ Fluid flow near magma

▪ Fluid chemistry

▪ Signals from magma movement/risk

▪ Seismicity

▪ …………….

Geothermal Volcanology

Understanding near magma environment

Techniques to locate the heat source (magma)

How to drill into the heat source

Heat transfer from magma to the geothermal system

Fluid flow / fluid properties

Technology development

KMT and geothermal science and utilization

Global potentials

Big impact on a localscale

Volcanic islands

Cities near volcanos