Reykjanes power station

The Reykjanes power station (known as Reykjanesvirkjun [ˈreiːcaˌnɛsˌvɪr̥cʏn]) is a geothermal power station located in Reykjanes at the south-western tip of Iceland.

Reykjanes power station
Reykjanes Power Station
Map
Official nameReykjanesvirkjun
CountryIceland
LocationReykjanes
Coordinates63°49′35″N 22°40′55″W / 63.82639°N 22.68194°W / 63.82639; -22.68194
StatusOperational
Commission dateMay 2006
Construction costUS$100 million
OwnerHS Orka
Geothermal power station
TypeFlash steam
Min. source temp.290 °C (550 °F)
Wells12
Max. well depth2,700 m (8,900 ft)
Power generation
Units operational2 × hp 50 MW + 1 lp 30 MW
Nameplate capacity130 MWe
External links
CommonsRelated media on Commons

As of 2012, the power plant generated 100MWe from two high pressure 50MWe turbines, using steam and brine from a reservoir at 290 to 320 °C (554 to 608 °F), which is extracted from 12 wells that are 2,700 m (8,900 ft) deep. This was the first time that geothermal steam of such high temperature had been used for electrical generation.[1]

In May 2023 a low pressure 30 MWe turbine started operation, bringing the power output of the plant to 130 MW. The turbine uses low pressure steam at about 200 °C (392 °F) coming from the two high pressure turbines. The residual heat is used to heat sea water for fish farming.[2]

The power plant was open to the public and housed the Power Plant Earth interpretative exhibition. However, the exhibit was closed in June 2018.[3]

From December 2023 staff based at the Reykjanes power station controlled remotely the geothermal Svartsengi power station which was threatened by volcanic activity.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Reykjanes Geothermal Power Plant". Power Technology. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  2. ^ "Stækkun Reykjanesvirkjunar lokið".
  3. ^ "Power Plant Earth". Facebook. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  4. ^ Ketilsson, Páll (1 December 2023). "Þrekvirki unnið við að halda framleiðslunni órofinni og efla á sama tíma varnir fyrirtækisins". www.vf.is (in Icelandic). Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
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