Iceland at World Geothermal Congress 2026

Iceland is the Official Country Partner of WGC2026, with Green by Iceland as a Platinum Sponsor.

Backed by more than a century of experience in geothermal utilisation, Iceland offers a proven model for how geothermal can strengthen energy security, transform societies, and support long-term economic growth.

At WGC2026, Iceland will be represented by a broad delegation across the geothermal value chain, from exploration and drilling to operations, innovation, and capacity building. Meet the delegation at the Iceland Pavilion to connect with Icelandic companies and experts, exchange insights and explore partnership opportunities.

The World Geothermal Congress 2026 (WGC2026), organised by the International Geothermal Association, will take place June 8–11, 2026, in Calgary, Canada, bringing together governments, industry leaders, researchers, and innovators to shape the future of sustainable energy.

Jun. 8 – 11 2026

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Meet the Icelandic delegation

The home of geothermal

In Iceland geothermal is the backbone of everyday life. It supplies around 90% of house heating and delivers over 60% of the country’s primary energy, shaping how communities function and the economy is powered.

This scale of geothermal use has produced clear social, economic, and climate benefits. Geothermal district heating has made reliable heat widely accessible while significantly reducing emissions. It has also improved quality of life in a cold country, from consistently warm homes to year-round swimming pools and outdoor recreation. Furthermore, geothermal supports wider value creation through cascading use, enabling new services and business opportunities.

By reducing reliance on imported fuels, geothermal has strengthened affordability and energy security while providing stable, locally managed heat supply. Over time, Iceland has avoided fuel import costs equivalent to around 2.5% of GDP on average.

Today, Icelandic specialists contribute to geothermal projects worldwide, bringing practical experience across the value chain, from exploration and drilling to operations, regulation, and system design.

At WGC2026, Iceland offers proven approaches to geothermal exploration, deployment, policy, and long-term operations. These are practical insights international partners can adapt and scale to turn their own local heat resources into long-term economic value. Explore the Icelandic delegation attending WGC2026 to find potential partners, proven solutions, and real-world expertise.

Find your geothermal partner

Landsvirkjun

Landsvirkjun is the National Power Company of Iceland. Generating electricity exclusively from renewable sources; hydropower, geothermal power and wind, Landvirkjun’s role is to maximize the value of the resources it has been entrusted with by the people of Iceland, in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Landsvirkjun supplies over 70% of all electricity produced in Iceland to industries, services, and households.

Looking ahead, Landsvirkjun’s role is threefold: build responsibly new power plants, optimize existing assets, and lead by example through transparent climate accounting and green finance. Iceland’s national target is carbon neutrality by 2040, and Landsvirkjun is one of the platforms that will hopefully make it possible.

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Bjarni Pálsson

Executive Vice President Wind & Geothermal Division at Landsvirkjun and President of …

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Reykjavík Energy

Reykjavík Energy is a driving force for a sustainable future, with geothermal energy at its core. As the parent company of ON Power, Veitur Utilities, Reykjavík Fibre Network and Carbfix - Reykjavík Energy builds on decades of geothermal expertise to advance the next phase of geothermal development through deep drilling and integrated system design, unlocking higher-temperature resources and strengthening the efficiency, scalability and long-term value of geothermal energy.

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Sævar Freyr Þráinsson

CEO

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Hera Grímsdóttir

CDO - Chief of Research and Innovation

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Ingvi Gunnarsson

Head of resource management

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Harpa Pétursdóttir

Director of New Energy

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Pálmar Sigurðsson

Head of Project Development - Research & Development

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Snorri Jökull Egilsson

Head of Environment and Climate

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Dario Ingi Di Rienzo

Geoscience lead of the New Energies Division

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Sigurður H. Markússon

Program lead - Superhot geothermal development

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Sigurður Ragnarsson

Reservoir Management Specialist

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Thráinn Fridriksson

Resource Leader for District Heating

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Ásdís Benediktsdóttir

Resource Leader for ON Power

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Reykjavík Geothermal

Reykjavík Geothermal (RG) is a leading geothermal energy developer specializing in the full geothermal value chain. Founded in 2008 and grounded in Iceland’s geothermal heritage, RG delivers expertise in exploration and research drilling, utility-scale project development, partnerships and financing, and long-term asset management. With experience spanning five continents and over 50 countries, the company enables communities to strengthen energy security and resilience, reduce emissions, and achieve lasting economic and environmental benefits.

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Magnús Dagur Ásbjörnsson

CEO

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Sigurður Björnsson

Geothermal economist

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Baldur Hauksson

CTO

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Hjálmar Eysteinsson

Head geophysicist

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Vilhjálmur Skúlason

CFO

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Þóroddur Sigurðsson

Drilling engineer

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Gunnar Örn Gunnarsson

Canary Island Project Manager

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Nicolo Rech

Geothermal Reservoir Modelling

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ELEMENTS BY BBA//FJELDCO

Leading Geothermal Legal Advisory Services

Iceland maintains a preeminent position in global geothermal development and regulatory frameworks. Elements by BBA//Fjeldco leverages this expertise to advise clients on legal issues relating to natural resource development across multiple jurisdictions.

Who We Advise:

  • Governments and energy authorities.
  • Multilateral development institutions (World Bank, UNDP, European Union, Turkish Development Bank)
  • Industry-leading geothermal development enterprises worldwide 

Our Global Experience Includes:

  • Drafting and reviewing laws and regulations in Iceland, France, Bulgaria, Comoros Islands, Djibouti, El Salvador, Honduras, Colombia, and more.
  • Securing legal environments for geothermal research
  • Navigating licensing, regulatory compliance and government engagement.
  • Structuring Power Purchase Agreements and project contracts.
  • Supporting feasibility studies, exploration drilling and facility construction.

The Elements Guide

In collaboration with first-class law firms worldwide, we offer the Elements Guide, a comprehensive overview of geothermal regulatory frameworks across multiple jurisdictions.

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Baldvin Björn Haraldsson

Partner & Chairman

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Antoine Lochet

Managing Partner

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Anna Björg Guðjónsdóttir

Partner

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Iceland GeoSurvey (ÍSOR)

Pioneers in the geothermal industry for nearly a century

ÍSOR is an Icelandic leading international provider of scientific and technical expertise to the geothermal industry, both high and low temperature resources. Team of world class experts with decades of experience, extensive datasets and know-how, is our most valuable asset. Effective, sustainable development and utilisation of geothermal resources requires an accurate knowledge of their long-term production capacity and careful management at all times. This includes close monitoring of the system during energy production and mitigation of any potential environmental impacts. However, the foundation for all this is our geoscience expertise and professional preparation. Therefore, ÍSOR is your ideal partner. Our experience in providing services, home and abroad, to the geothermal industry; power production, district heating systems and other geothermal utilisation spans nearly a century.

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Alexandra K. Hafsteinsdóttir

Geologist

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Auður Agla Óladóttir

Geothermal Expert

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Deirdre Clark

Senior Geochemist

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Egill Árni Guðnason

Geophysicist

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Finnbogi Óskarsson

Geochemist

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Helga Margrét Helgadóttir

Senior geothermal geologist

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Sigurður G. Kristinsson

Geothermal expert

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COWI

COWI offers services in geothermal plant engineering, development consulting and drilling engineering. Leveraging over fifty years of expertise in geothermal energy. The company has played a pivotal role in harnessing both high- and low temperature fields, contributing to projects totalling more than 2.000 MW of geothermal energy in over 30 countries. COWI has a strong presence in the Nordic region, the UK, India and North America.

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Freyr Harðarson

Consulting Engineer: Design and Project Management

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Katrín Ragnarsdóttir

Chemical Engineer / Geothermal Specialist

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Verkís

Consulting engineers with world-class expertise in geothermal, hydropower and sustainable solutions.

Verkís consulting engineers and its forerunners have, since 1932, contributed to the development of the Icelandic infrastructure by providing consultancy and engineering services in the fields of energy, industry, buildings, infrastructure, planning, health, safety and the environment.

The firm has gained international reputation in the field of hydropower and geothermal utilisation by exporting knowledge based on decades of experience and contributing to the successful development of various renewable energy projects worldwide.

When designing and advising its customers, Verkis places emphasis on sustainable solutions, e.g. energy saving, building materials selection, conservation of ecological value and minimisation of project impact during its lifecycle. Verkis contributes to the changes needed to bring sustainability to the planet and combat greenhouse gas emissions by emphasising on UN’s Sustainable Development Goals in its activities related to Gender Equality, Affordable and Clean Energy and Sustainable Cities and Communities.

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EFLA

EFLA is a general engineering and consulting company based in Iceland with international activities and consultancy around the globe. 

EFLA's strength is based on highly qualified and experienced professionals with expertise in a wide variety of fields. The company mission is to enable and support the success of its customers and society, through progressive and value-driven solutions.

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KMT

Krafla Magma Testbed (KMT) is an international research and innovation platform based in Iceland, focused on advancing superhot geothermal energy and fundamental understanding of magma and volcanic systems. By enabling controlled, direct access to magma and superhot fluids at depth, KMT serves as a unique natural laboratory where energy research and volcanology converge. The project supports breakthroughs in superhot geothermal development while simultaneously generating new insights into magmatic processes, volcanic behavior, and Earth’s heat engine. Through interdisciplinary and international collaboration, KMT aims to strengthen sustainable energy technologies, improve volcanic risk assessment, and expand scientific frontiers.

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Björn Þór Guðmundsson

CEO

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Iceland Drilling

Geothermal drilling specialists

Iceland Drilling Company (IDC) has extensive experience in the field of drilling deep geothermal wells.  The company operates internationally, and possesses a fleet of hydraulic rigs and modern drilling equipment that can be transferred swiftly from one part of the world to another.   We offer our client safe and efficient operations and complete integrated services.  Our drilling rigs are electric driven, and with adequate substations in place, then the rigs can be connected directly to an electric grid at drilling site, which replaces diesel driven generators. The consequences are emission free and low sound operations.

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GRÓ Geothermal Training Programme

The GRÓ Geothermal Training Programme is a postgraduate training programme aiming at assisting developing countries in capacity strengthening within geothermal exploration and development.  

Since its establishment in 1978, the Programme was known as the United Nations University Geothermal Training Programme (UNU-GTP).  In 2020, it transitioned to operate as part of the GRÓ – Centre for Capacity Development, Sustainability and Societal Change which is under the auspices of UNESCO, and was renamed the GRÓ Geothermal Training Programme (GRÓ GTP).  The Government of Iceland funds the operations of the Programme through its official development cooperation.

The mission of GRÓ GTP is to give university graduates engaged in geothermal work intensive on-the-job training in their chosen fields of specialization. The Programme benefits from the long and extensive knowledge acquired in the Icelandic geothermal sector and the trainees get to work side by side with the leading geothermal professionals in Iceland. The overall aim is to assist developing countries with significant geothermal potential in building up groups of specialists that cover most aspects of geothermal exploration and development. Thereby, enabling or strengthening their capacity to develop and utilise their own geothermal resources.

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Bjarni Richter

Director of GRÓ Geothermal Training Programme (GRÓ GTP)

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Ingimar G. Haraldsson

Deputy Director of the GRÓ Geothermal Training Programme (GRÓ GTP)

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Málfríður Ómarsdóttir

Project Manager at GRÓ Geothermal Training Programme

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HD Industrial & Technical Services

HD Industrial & Technical Services is an Iceland based engineering and service company with more than three decades of experience supporting critical energy infrastructure. The company was formed in one of the world’s most demanding geothermal environments, where reliability, technical depth, and rapid response are essential for secure and continuous power generation.

HD specializes in high complexity mechanical and electrical services for geothermal and power generation facilities, with particular emphasis on turbine and generator systems. The company is widely recognized for advanced turbine rotor repairs, diaphragm and blade refurbishment, and complex welding on critical components, supported by in-house post weld heat treatment, precision machining, and dynamic balancing – capabilities that significantly reduce outage duration and strengthen energy security for plant owners.

HD is also an industry leader in power plant installation and construction, delivering mechanical installation of turbines and generators, balance-of-plant works, commissioning, and early-stage operational support. The company brings practical, field-driven engineering expertise to both large-scale geothermal developments and modular power plant solutions.

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Lydur Skulason

Director of Energy Divison

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The Iceland School of Energy

The Iceland School of Energy at Reykjavík University is an international graduate school focused on sustainable energy systems, with a strong emphasis on geothermal energy. ISE offers interdisciplinary master’s programs across engineering, science, technology, and business, preparing students to understand energy challenges from technical, economic, and systems perspectives.

Based in Iceland, ISE uses the country’s energy sector as a living laboratory, working closely with industry, government, and international partners to provide hands-on education and applied research. Through global collaboration and capacity building, ISE contributes to the development of future energy professionals and supports the transition toward sustainable and low-carbon energy systems worldwide.

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Dr. Juliet Newson

Director

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Dr. María Sigríður Guðjónsdóttir

Associate Professor at the Department of Engineering

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Jacob Kaminski

Academic Program Manager

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