Þorleikur Johannesson is a mechanical engineer with over 25 years of experience in the field of geothermal utilization and managing geothermal projects. He has extensive experience in geothermal district heating, as well as a variety of low temperature geothermal energy utilization methods. Over the last decade, he worked as an expert in geothermal district heating, steam field and power plant engineering.
He started his career at Verkís with the design of the Nesjavellir heat main, a project that focused on optimized utilization of geothermal resources and has since been involved as a geothermal expert and project manager on a multitude of projects, both in Iceland and abroad, i.e. in Kenya, USA, China, Turkey, Indonesia, Ethiopia and Portugal.
Þorleikur is a part time lecturer in the post-graduate program at the University of Iceland and in the United Nations University Geothermal Training Program. He graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree M.Sc. from the Technical University of Copenhagen (DTH).
In the last decade, he has acted as project manager/team leader for design and implementation of the 100 MW Reykjanes geothermal power plant, feasibility study and design for extension and rehabilitation of the 35 years old Svartsengi geothermal power plant (now producing 75 MW electricity and 180 MW heat) and 15 Well head power plants in Olkaria with installed capacity of 80 MW.
Due to his wide-ranging experience in development and engineering of geothermal projects in power production, district heating and combination of various purposes, Þorleikur has recently been engaged as a consultant regarding the further development of the Reykjanes Resource park. The project involves various resource streams and enhancement of their utilization such as for the Blue lagoon, cosmetic production from silica/brine, utility design for CRI methanol production from geothermal gases, and utilization of geothermal heat for large scale greenhouse complex.
Further to this, Þorleikur is currently participating in the planning of the Geothermal Reykjanes Power Plant Resource Park. This project encompasses utilization of geothermal heat for power production, fish farming and fish drying, as well as providing geothermal streams for various other applications and purposes such as fish oil production and cultivation of algae.
Þorleikur Jóhannesson is highly familiar to working within an international context and has worked as a geothermal expert and project manager on projects in Kenya, Indonesia, USA, China, Belgium, Turkey and Portugal.