Case Study: Energy

Iceland

    Iceland Location:

• Iceland is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean
• Population of 356,991 and an area of 103,000 km^.
• It is is defined by its dramatic landscape with volcanoes, geysers, hot springs and lava fields.

Iceland Energy Facts:

• Iceland has a very high concentration of volcanoes, enabling 87% of Icelandic homes and public buildings to be heated with geothermal energy, and 26% of the country’s electricity to be generated the same way.
• The five major geothermal power plants produced 26.2% of the nation’s electricity in 2010. Only 0.1% of electricity in Iceland came from fossil fuels at that point.
• The rest of the country’s electricity comes from hydroelectric power.

Importance of energy in Iceland

                Hydropower:

• Hydropower plays an important role in Iceland’s energy mix, taking up to 73%.
• Hydropower is used for heating spaces and houses.
• To generate electricity: The vast majority of the nation’s electricity is generated by hydropower (waterfalls and steam) 73,8% to be exact. 

                Geothermal:

• About 85% of all houses in Iceland are heated with geothermal energy.  
• Between the years 1990 and 2014 Iceland geothermal electricity production grew 1700% which is an outstanding number given that the population only grew 25%. The answer is found in the growth in aluminum production in the country but it is believed to take up 70% of the electricity.
• Five major geothermal power plants are active in Iceland. Those five plants also produce a little over 26% of the electricity used in Iceland. 
• To heat up Iceland’s many geothermal spas and pool: Icelanders first started using the power of their earth by baking bread and bathing in hot springs 
• It really doesn’t matter the size of the town or village you will visit in Iceland, it will have at least one geothermal pool which the locals enjoy soaking in, all year round. And the cost of visiting such a swimming pool is much less than in other countries. This is caused by the low cost of geothermal heating and electricity made economical by its geothermal resources.
• Iceland has over 600 hot springs and 200 volcanoes.
• The hot water is so cheap in Iceland that Icelanders are known for their long showers
• For greenhouses, so we can grow organic fruits and vegetables
• To warm up streets so they don’t get slippery in winter