Svartsengi geothermal plant expansion progressing despite volcanic activity
Construction of expansion facility at the Svartsengi geothermal plant, Iceland (source: HS Orka)
Carlo Cariaga
10 Oct 2024
Construction work for the expansion of the Svartsengi geothermal power plant in Iceland is progressing almost to schedule despite recent volcanic activity.
Construction on the expansion and renovation of the geothermal plant in Svartsengi remains almost on schedule despite significant delays in light of six volcanic eruptions in Reykjanes in almost a year, as announced by HS Orka. The groundbreaking for the project was held in December 2022, and the planned commissioning is at the beginning of 2026.
The expansion project aims to increase the generation capacity of Svartsengi without having to drill additional wells. Thus, the focus is on the renovation and replacement of older equipment. Svartsengi 7 will increase the total production capacity of the Svartsengi geothermal field to 85 MWe. Two older power plants will be decommissioned when the new one comes into use. It is also hoped that the renovations will result in lower maintenance costs in the futures.
Despite the healthy progress in Svartsengi, the Icelandic Government has nevertheless commissioned Iceland GeoSurvey to identify locations for the drilling of new wells for emergency heat supply.
The geothermal power plant in Svartsengi is the first mixed geothermal power plant in Iceland, producing electricity, hot water, and cold water. The power plant was built in six phases over thirty years, and the first part was commissioned in 1976.
Source: HS Orka
