ICELAND ENERGY AND GEOGRAPHY

Iceland Energy and Geography

Trisha Litong
Eastern Oregon University

ICELAND ENERGY AND GEOGRAPHY

2
Abstract

The following research paper was written to address the question of how geography affects the
way a country uses energy, through either renewable or nonrenewable resources. In this paper,
Iceland is the studied country, as it will be toured by the author during March 2016. The
countrys geography will be summarized and will show its impact on energy used in the
southwestern region. Renewable sources, especially geothermal, proves to be the main source of
energy for Iceland. The Blue Lagoon and the power plant of the Hitaveita Suurnesja energy
company will be mentioned as an example of geothermal energy. In addition, nonrenewable
energy sources will also be addressed. After the authors tour in March 2016, a final project
corresponding to the pre-research conducted for this paper will be created. Participants in the
final project will be Icelanders who are knowledgeable about both renewable and nonrenewable
energy in their country. Additionally, pictures, videos, and audio clips of interviews will be taken
in Iceland to act as visible and auditory resources.
Keywords: geography, geothermal, energy, renewable, nonrenewable

ICELAND ENERGY AND GEOGRAPHY

Iceland Energy and Geography

Geography and physical surroundings play essential roles in determining what kind of
energy should be used. Understanding the land allows energy to be generated in the most
beneficial way possible for those who rely on it. For example, geologists study layers of rock
and minerals to determine the best place to look for oil and natural gas. Without surveying the
land, they might completely miss an oil-rich reservoir and mistakenly place a hydroelectric
system there instead. While the hydroelectric system benefits the environment, there could have
been more prospects if an oil derrick was constructed. Thus, fully comprehending the potential
of the land ensures that the land is used in the most adequate way possible. Using energy sources
that correspond with an areas geography type, whether it be a mountainous landmass or shallow
river, can be advantageous for not only the users, but the land in its entirety. Iceland is a country
that pays close attention to its land and uses energy sources to its highest advantage.
To gain insight on the way energy is produced and consumed within Iceland, it is optimal
to understand the geography of the country. Iceland is a north European country, located in
between the landmasses of Greenland and the United Kingdom. It is an island situated within
both the Greenland Sea and North Atlantic Ocean (Iceland, 2016). The island experiences
volcanic activity as it sits upon a fault line, and many volcanoes produce severe eruptions to this
day. The plates at the fault divide at a rate of 2 centimeters per year, resulting in more than 200
volcanoes and numerous hot springs (Bardadottir, 2006). To contrast the heat resulting from
volcanoes and hot springs, Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland is covered with more glaciers than
the entirety of continental Europe (Iceland, 2016). According to CIA: The World Factbook,
Iceland is the 78th country in energy consumption, producing 17.4 billion kilowatt-hours. The
country relies greatly on renewable resources, with only 4.3 percent of energy produced by fossil

ICELAND ENERGY AND GEOGRAPHY

fuels. Most of the energy, at 70.6 percent, is produced by hydroelectric plants, and 25.1 percent
is produced by other renewable resources.
Geothermal energy plays a key role in the Icelanders everyday life. Some common uses
of geothermal energy include necessary applications, such as cooking and cleaning, but also
recreational applications, such as swimming pools (Thorhallsdottir, 2007). Industrial uses
include wood drying for floors, retreading for car tires, and curing for cement blocks
(Ragnarsson, 2000). The main use of geothermal energy in Iceland is space heating, and
according to Ragnarsson (2000), 86 percent of the countrys house heating is produced by
geothermal energy. Icelands volcanic and hot spring placement both directly correspond to the
energy used in the region. As a result, most of the countrys inhabitants live within the
southwest, where volcanoes and hot springs are plentiful.
One of the most visited tourist attractions in Iceland is the renowned Blue Lagoon, which
was founded in 1976. The attraction contains a spa where one can relax and receive massages in
addition to wading in warm waters. It is located on the Reykjanes peninsula, which is in the
southwestern region of Iceland. The peninsula is comprised of porous lava rock, being situated
on top of Reykjanes, a historically active volcano. Additionally, the Blue Lagoon neighbors
Hitaveita Suurnesja, a geothermal energy company that produces 75 megawatts of electrical
energy and 150 megawatts of thermal energy (Albertsson, Brynjolfsdottir, Gudmundsottir, 2010).
The companys geothermal power plant regularly discharges mineral-rich brine into the
manmade water structure (Gentry, 2013). Albertsson et al. (2010) explains that when Hitaveita
Suurnesja was first founded, the company drilled to create holes of steam to be used for energy.
The steam holes were flushed with brine produced by the power plant, which eventually led to
the creation of the Blue Lagoon (Albertsson et al., 2010). To this present day, the brine acts as a

ICELAND ENERGY AND GEOGRAPHY

warm bath, and is thought to even cure psoriasis and eczema (Bardadottir, 2006). The
relationship of Hitaveita Suurnesja and the Blue Lagoon and is an example of how Iceland uses
its unique geography to produce renewable sources for not only energy, but also leisure purposes.
While it may seem as though Iceland is adamant on using renewable energy sources, the
country began its dependency on oil in the 1900s (Bardadottir, 2006). Before completely turning
to geothermal energy, oil was used for heating by at least one-fifth of the countrys population.
Other uses for oil included lighting, boats, and car gasoline. More utilized than oil was coal,
used by two-fifths of the population to heat their houses. Yet, in time, oil proved to be more
beneficial for heating innovations, so coal usage was essentially terminated. As of 2014, Iceland
still consumes 16,310 barrels of refined petroleum products every day, with an international
ranking of 138th in oil consumption (Iceland, 2016).
Though Iceland does use nonrenewable energy, it can become almost completely reliant
on renewable energy in the future. Geothermal energy is a renewable source, replacing fossil
fuels and reducing the amount of air pollution by about 2 megatons of carbon dioxide
(Edenhofer, Madruga, Sokona, 2012). In addition to helping the environment, geothermal
energy greatly benefits the countrys economy. Rather than importing nonrenewable resources
such as oil, the country saves almost 100 million U.S. dollars by using renewable resources
(Edenhofer et al., 2012). Iceland has all the necessary sources right within its land due to its
distinct location. Thus, the hot spots and volcanoes dotted around the country can eliminate the
need of importing oil and natural gas from other countries. The natural surroundings create a
strong reliance of the country on renewable energy. The country of Iceland is proof that
geography has a direct affect and relationship with energy production and consumption.

ICELAND ENERGY AND GEOGRAPHY

References
(2016, February 25). Iceland. Retrieved from
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/ic.html.
Albertsson, A., Brynjolfsdottir, A., & Gudmundsottir, M. (2010, April 29). The history of the
Blue Lagoon in Svartsengi. Retrieved from
http://www.bluelagoon.com/files/research-studies/blue-lagoon-research/the-historyof-blue-lagoon-in-svartsengi.pdf.
Bardadottir, Helga. (2006, April). Geothermal development and research in Iceland.
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Edenhofer, O., Madruga, R., & Sokona, Y. (2012). Renewable energy sources and climate
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Ragnarsson, Arni. (2000, June 10). Geothermal development in Iceland 1995-1999.
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Thorhallsdottir, Thora Ellen. (2007, August 5). Environment and energy in Iceland: a
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