| Reykjanes power station | |
|---|---|
 Reykjanes Power Station | |
 | |
| Official name | Reykjanesvirkjun |
| Country | Iceland |
| Location | Reykjanes |
| Coordinates | 63°49′35″N 22°40′55″W / 63.82639°N 22.68194°W |
| Status | Operational |
| Commission date | May 2006 |
| Construction cost | US$100 million |
| Owner | HS Orka |
| Geothermal power station | |
| Type | Flash steam |
| Min. source temp. | 290 °C (550 °F) |
| Wells | 12 |
| Max. well depth | 2,700 m (8,900 ft) |
| Power generation | |
| Units operational | 2 × hp 50 MW + 1 lp 30 MW |
| Nameplate capacity | 130 MWe |
| External links | |
| Commons | Related media on Commons |
The Reykjanes power station (known as Reykjanesvirkjun [ˈreiːcaˌnɛsˌvɪr̥cʏn]) is a geothermal power station located in Reykjanes at the south-western tip of Iceland.
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]
- ^ "Reykjanes Geothermal Power Plant". Power Technology. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
- ^ "Stækkun Reykjanesvirkjunar lokið".
- ^ "Power Plant Earth". Facebook. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ^ 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.