Snowy start for the largest ever geothermal energy event in Iceland
Snapshot of Reykjavik weather in local Icelandic media (Visir.is)
Alexander Richter
7 Mar 2013
More than 600 participants have gathered for the largest geothermal energy event in Iceland ever with representatives from 24 countries making this a successful international showcase for geothermal development worldwide.
This week sees has a series of geothermal events unfolding in Reykjavik all along the first Iceland Geothermal Conference, which was launched with an opening reception yesterday at the headquarter of local utility Reykjavik Energy.
The event, organized by the Iceland Geothermal Cluster, has attracted more than 600 participants with about 200 having come from abroad.
Alongside the event, the International Renewable Energy Agency held a workshop on geothermal energy development in the Andes region with representatives from Chile, Peru, Mexico, Bolivia, Peru and more with about 50 participants. The Swedish Embassy in Iceland also organized a small event with industry representatives from Iceland and Sweden which was held at the Hellisheidi Power Plant.
Today the actual conference started and also featured a trade show element with exhibitors from Iceland and abroad.
There are several international delegations here, from Hungary, Mexico, Ecuador, France, Germany and more … in total representatives from over 24 countries are represented at the event that is held in the new Music Hall and Conference House Harpa in the middle of Reykjavik at the habour front.
For the afternoon two field trips were planned to the Hellisheidi power plant and the Reykjanes resource park … but the weather had different plants. Not only did the temperatures drop right for the beginning of the conference but last night saw a blizzard going over Iceland creating quite a snow chaos in the city and providing for some additional adventure to the international guests but also the Icelandic representatives that all had troubles getting to the venue. Unfortunately the field trips had to be cancelled but there is hope that there will still be a chance to see the plants.
But – and many Icelanders stressed this fact several times today – at least it is warm inside through geothermal heating.
Details about the conference can be found here.
ThinkGeoEnergy and PiensaGeotermia are covering the event and we will post pictures of the event tomorrow.
