A project to build a research facility for geothermal research, housed in the Innovation Hub of ON Power’s Geothermal Park, recently received a grant of ISK 65 million from the University Cooperation Fund. Project partners include the University of Iceland, Reykjavik University, and ON Power.

The goal of the project is to create facilities for innovation and development in the field of geothermal energy at the Geothermal Park, where solutions for geothermal utilization can be tested with real geothermal fluids and on a larger scale than is currently possible in existing research laboratories. The university contacts for the project are María Sigríður Guðjónsdóttir, associate professor at Reykjavik University, and Sigrún Nanna Karlsdóttir, professor at the University of Iceland. Together with their collaborators and partners from overseas universities and professional entities, they have worked on various projects related to geothermal research aimed at gathering data on the nature of geothermal energy and its utilization. ON Power will host the research facility and provide access to the resource flows of the power plant (e.g., geothermal water, cold water, and electricity) for testing in research projects and for developing equipment and solutions related to geothermal utilization.

“We welcome this important milestone for geothermal research in Iceland and the first project to receive funding within the Innovation Hub of the Geothermal Park. ON Power looks forward to building this unique facility together and are proud to host it at the Hellisheiði Power Plant, which is the largest geothermal power plant in Europe,” says Helga Kristín Jóhannsdóttir, head of Geothermal Park at ON Power.

Powerful Platform for Innovation and Sustainability

The Innovation Hub will be located within the Geothermal Park, the green industrial park of ON Power at the Hellisheiði Power Plant. In the Innovation Hub, companies, universities, and entrepreneurs will have a unique opportunity to develop and test new solutions that use energy and resources sustainably and efficiently. A powerful platform for research and development of technological solutions related to energy and sustainability will be established there, and ON Power will set up connections for electricity and resources for research and entrepreneurial projects, along with workspaces in shared office facilities.

Opportunities for Diverse Projects

“The Innovation Hub is designed as a testing facility for various projects, both energy-related and others that promote sustainability and the use of green solutions,” says Helga Kristín. “We want to create an environment where innovative ideas can develop with the support of robust infrastructure and expertise, whether it involves research, technological development, or testing in real-world conditions of solutions that can then grow within the Geothermal Park. We encourage everyone working on sustainable solutions and energy utilization to get in touch and explore how the Innovation Hub can become part of the journey.”

From First Steps to Growth

The Geothermal Park, which is the site of the Innovation Hub, has already proven to be fertile ground for innovation. Companies like Climeworks and Vaxa Technologies began their operations there at the research stage. Both companies have built large factories around their activities in the Geothermal Park, housing sustainable technological solutions that have attracted global attention. With the Innovation Hub, further opportunities are created for companies and research entities to take their first steps, with the potential to scale up to full operations within the Geothermal Park.

Area, Energy, and Resources in the Geothermal Park

The Geothermal Park, located just 20 minutes from Reykjavík, offers:

• Access to renewable energy from the Hellisheiði Power Plant, including both electricity and thermal energy.

• Access to resources such as cold water and gases.

• Shared infrastructure and collaboration opportunities in a circular economy environment.

• Plots of suitable size for operations, with potential for growth.

• Proximity to extensive expertise in geothermal energy and infrastructure.

For more information and collaboration opportunities, contact ON Power (geothermalpark@on.is).