Landsvirkjun signs on Mannvit and Verkis for 180 MW development in Iceland
Krafla geothermal power plant, Iceland (source: flickr/ thinkgeoenergy, creative commons)
Alexander Richter
24 Oct 2011
Iceland national energy company Landsvirkjun signs on engineering firms Mannvit and Verkis for design and consulting services for two new geothermal power plants of each 90 MW at Bjarnarflag and Theistareykir in the North of Iceland.
Announced earlier this month, “Landsvirkjun (Iceland’s national energy company) and Þeistareykir ehf. (A joint-owned municipal development company) signed a contract with the engineering companies Mannvit and Verkís for design and consulting services for two new geothermal power plants in Bjarnarflag and Þeistareykir. The total contract value is approximately $25 million USD (2.9 billion Icelandic kronur).
“The decision to start construction on these new geothermal power plants in Northeast Iceland is a cause for celebration and we are immensely proud to have been chosen to engineer these important projects. The contract includes preliminary design, preparation of tender documents and project design for a 90 MW power plant in Bjarnarflag and a 90 MW power plant in Þeistareykir, as well as supervision assistance for mechanical and electrical equipment installation,” says Eyjólfur Árni Rafnsson, Mannvit CEO, who signed the contract alongside Sveinn I. Ólafsson, CEO of Verkís.
Next steps for these projects include an immediate review of prerequisites and preliminary design. Full project design will start in early 2012. It is expected that construction of phase 1 (45 MW) of the Bjarnaflag geothermal power plant (Bjarnarflagsvirkjun) will commence as early as next summer, with start-up at the end of 2014. Construction of the Þeistareykir power plant (Þeistareykjavirkjun) is expected to start in late 2012, with start-up of phase 1 (45 MW) around mid-year of 2015; phase 2 start-up (45 MW) is planned for late 2015. At its peak, this project will involve approximately 60 specialists from Mannvit and Verkís.
Over the last 10 years, Landsvirkjun and Þeistareykir ehf., have invested over $100 million USD (12 billion Icelandic kronur) on researching geothermal areas in Northeast Iceland, and thus have built an immense database in preparation for these geothermal power plants.
Due to increased demand from energy buyers in the area, final preparations and research for these projects was expedited. Landsvirkjun is currently in discussions with five possible energy buyers.
Environmental Impact Assessments for a 90 MW power plant in Bjarnarflag and a 200 MW power plant in Þeistareykir are completed and steam for 45 MW has been procured in each location.”
Source: Mannvit press release by email
