WGC2020+1 – Meet Icelandic power utility Landsvirkjun

Theistareykir geothermal power plant by Landsvirkjun, Iceland (source: Hreinn Hjartarson)

Getting ready for the World Geothermal Congress 2020+1 starting Oct. 24, 2021 in Reykjavik, Iceland, ThinkGeoEnergy is collaborating with Green by Iceland and Iceland Geothermal, a cluster initiative by the Iceland geothermal energy sector on a short interview series.

Today, meet Bjarni Pálsson, Executive Director Geothermal Development at Icelandic power company Landsvirkjun. Landsvirkjun is a state-owned power utility with a large portfolio of hydropower plants and geothermal operating plants in the Northeast of Iceland, among them the 90 MW Theistareykir geothermal plant, the latest large-scale plant added in Iceland. Learn more about the company’s three geothermal plants here. Bjarni Pálsson is a former member of the Board of Directors of the International Geothermal Association and the tireless chair of the WGC2020 Organizing Committee.

1. Any suggestions for WGC attendees that are “must-see” while they are in Iceland? 

Here my concrete suggestions for the attendees of the World Geothermal Congress:

• Lake Mývatn Area in Northeast of Iceland (Living on a Volcano field trip)
• The Svartsengi Geothermal Power Plant / Blue Lagoon / Resource Park (field trip)
• Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Plant next to a World Heritage Site of Þingvellir

2. How did you come to work for Landsvirkjun, and how has this changed your view on sustainable energy?

Just after my Ph.D., I was offered a role in developing Landsvirkjun’s geothermal skills for the future. As we compete with companies worldwide in attracting interesting power-intensive businesses to Iceland, Landsvirkjun’s set an ambitious goal to be among the best in the world, and that’s still our aim.

3. Talk about your company’s area of expertise?

Landsvirkjun’s expertise is building, owning, and operating hydro, geothermal, and wind power plants in arctic environments where we must balance cost-effectiveness and respect for the environment and society.

4. How many countries have you worked in with geothermal?

I have primarily worked in Iceland but advised on geothermal projects in Turkey and Italy and trained geothermal experts on various topics in East Africa and Latin America.

5. What is one of your favorite projects, and why?

I have been lucky to work on many great geothermal projects. However, I guess I have to mention the Iceland Deep Drilling Project (IDDP) and the succession project, the Krafla Magma Testbed (KKMT). These are the most challenging projects I have been involved with, drilling down to a 950°C hot resource and handling the world’s hottest geothermal well. It is really drilling beyond the comfort zone of geothermal and stretching the boundaries of technical limitations at so many different levels. I also like working on projects that contribute local benefits to conventional power production.

6. How do you see the long-term future for geothermal energy?

It is often said that geothermal will not save the planet. That may be true. However, geothermal utilization can significantly impact various locations around the world, such as on volcanic islands like Iceland and Caribbean islands, helping these societies reach a carbon-neutral future. This could be utilizing high or medium-temperature geothermal resources for power and heat or low-temperature resources for heating, drying, or other industrial applications. Finally, geothermal utilities should aim for local developments to improve the sustainability of a project.

Meet Landsvirkjun at the World Geothermal Congress 2020+1, Oct. 24-27, 2021 at the Iceland Pavilion on the exhibition floors.