The Blue Lagoon. Reykjanes, Iceland. Photo by Ragnar Th Sigurdsson.

Renewable energy

Icelanders have been using renewable energy for over a century. 

Today, all local electricity and district-heating needs are powered from renewable resources, including hydroelectric and geothermal. By harnessing domestic energy resources, Iceland has dramatically increased its living standards and created tremendous opportunities for energy-dependent industries to produce goods more responsibly. 

Icelandic renewable energy expertise lies in four areas:

1. Geothermal energy for electricity, district heating, and direct use

  1. 30% of electricity in Iceland is produced by geothermal energy. 
  2. Geothermal district heating is the norm in Iceland. 
  3. Iceland pioneered the direct and integrated use of geothermal energy which reduces carbon emissions and creates jobs. 

2. Hydropower for electricity production

  1. 70% of electricity in Iceland is produced by hydropower.
  2. The largest hydro dam in Europe is Kárahnhnjúkar in East Iceland. 

3. Power Transmission Systems

  1. Reliably connecting renewable electricity with end-users.
  2. Significant expertise in designing power transmission systems to withstand severe climate conditions and natural hazards.
  3. Environmentally sustainable design. 

4. CCUS - Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage

  1. The Carbfix project binds CO2 emissions directly into stone to store underground at an industrial scale.
  2. E-fuels, such as turning green hydrogen and CO2 from geothermal power plants or other sources into liquid methanol for fuel application, greener chemicals, and products. (P2X & ETL).
Renewable energy in Iceland