Field Trips

Veitur Utilities, Reykjavik Energy’s subsidiary, operates the world’s largest geothermal district heating system in the Capital Area of Iceland. In 2015, it conducted 82,7 million cubic meters of hot water from low and high temperature areas to customers. The system dates back to 1930 when the washing geothermal pools in Reykjavik were first utilised for heating. During these 86 years of operation, the system has allowed Icelanders to reduce their CO2 footprint by million tonnes.

• 14:30  Departure from Hilton Nordica – short walk to Bolholt
• 14:40  Bolholt borehole and pumping station
• 15:15  Öskuhlíð storage facility
• 15:45   Washing geothermal pools in Laugardalur
• 16:20   Reykir geothermal field in Mosfellsbær
• 17:30   Departure back to Reykjavik

The Hellisheiði co-generation high temperature geothermal power plant is located on the southwestern perimeter of the Hengill Volcanic System.  It is one of the country’s largest geothermal areas and is both volcanologically and seismically active, being located at a plate triple junction. The tour starts with a 30 minute drive to the Hengill Central Volcano and it‘s adjoining volcanic rift zone, which is the production field for the Hellisheiði power plant.  There we will visit a borhole and other structures of interest.

The Hellisheidi Power Plant is one of the world‘s largest geothermal plants and once there, we will see how the volcano‘s energy is transformed into electricity and hot water for district heating. A Geothermal Resource Park is under development at Hellisheidi. Already silica-based health products are being produced and cutting-edge science and skills are being utilized to mineralize CO2 in the basaltic bedrock underneath the plant. More recent development involves algae cultivation.