Hellisheiði Power Plant
Hellisheiði Power Plant is located south of Hengill and produces hot water and electricity. The power plant was commissioned in 2006 and has a capacity of 200 MW in thermal power and 303 MW in electricity. In terms of liters, this is about 950 liters of hot water per second. The electricity is sold all over the country, and the hot water we produce is used for heating for more than half of the capital region.
All excess geothermal water from Hellisheiði Power Plant is typically directed into a drainage system below the groundwater system in the geothermal reservoir. An air purification plant is located at the power plant, utilizing Carbfix technology to remove hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide, which are dissolved in the geothermal water and directed into the drainage system.
Nesjavellir Power Plant
The Nesjavellir Power Plant, located north of Hengill, produces hot water and electricity. It can produce up to 300 MW of geothermal energy, which is about 1,640 l/sec of hot water and up to 120 MW of electricity.
Andakílsá Power Plant
The Andakílsá Power Plant in Borgarfjörður started operations in 1947. The power plant replaced motorized electrical generators that had been used both in Akranes and Borgarnes and the surrounding rural areas, making it a significant improvement for the environment. Hydropower is used to generate electricity, and the total production capacity of the power plant is 8 MW.
The management of the plant takes into consideration water levels in the lake of Skorradalsvatn and the flow of the Andakílsá river with a view to best preserving the Skorradalsvatn lake as a nature reserve and Andakílsá as a fishing river.
Improved Energy Efficiency – Increased Value Creation
ON Power operates the two most efficient geothermal power plants in the country in terms of energy efficiency, where both electricity and hot water are produced from the high-temperature resource.
The utilization of geothermal energy is an exciting project as the resource is generally completely hidden in the depths of the earth, making it a significant challenge to understand it and learn to utilize it in a sustainable manner. To make the best use of our resources, the steam is also directed to steam turbines where electricity generation takes place. Our electricity is produced in a sustainable manner, and its carbon footprint is among the lowest in the world.
By producing more units of energy in the form of electricity and hot water from the same resource flow, it becomes possible to reduce the carbon footprint per energy unit. With improved energy efficiency, there is neither an increase nor a decrease in emissions; rather, the value created from the resource flow that causes the emissions is increased.
We Meet the Needs of a Growing Society
Our geothermal power plants at Nesjavellir and Hellisheiði were built to meet the increasing demand for hot water in the community. Our power plant sites have wells that are 1000 to 3300 meters deep, from which a steam/water mixture is gathered and directed to a separation station where the water is separated from the steam. The water is diverted to a heating utility and is used to heat up groundwater for the district heating system. We produce about 50% of all the hot water for the capital region, which is used for heating homes and in swimming pools, among other things. Think of us the next time you go swimming or take a shower.
Discover the Wonders of Geothermal Energy
The Geothermal Park, located at Hellisheiði Power Station, has various activities aimed at responsibly utilizing the power plant's products in an environmentally friendly manner, thereby creating added value from the geothermal resources.
Our Geothermal Exhibition is located at Hellisheiði Power Plant and provides insight into the production and utilization of geothermal energy in Iceland. The exhibition presents geology, technology, and history in an accessible and clear manner with displays and multimedia technology. Staff can provide information and audio guides are available for the exhibition.