Iceland

• Energy source %


  - Geothermal 65

  - hydropower 20

  - Fossil fuels 15
• Geothermal uses


  Space heating 85% all houses

  27% electricity
• Hydroelectric power use


  73% of electricity
• Fossil fuels use


  mainly transport industry
• Kárahnjúkar dam


  - largest power plant in Iceland

  - largest hydro power plant in Europe

  - produce 4600 GwH cheap clean energy annually
• Project of Kárahnjúkar mountain region

  - creation of 5 dams on 2 rivers in area

  - creating 3 resevoirs

  - completed in 2009
• Project positives economic


  - produce cheap clean reliable energy

  - unemployment rate around site lower than national average

  - availability of cheap energy + tax incentives from government attract aluminium industry (Alcoa)

  - created 750 jobs

  - attract foreign currency investment
• Project negatives economic


  - cost too high + too many concessions for company

  - company receive energy at too low rate and should pay more

  - Alcoa accused using global tax loopholes (avoid paying tax to Icelandic government)

  - young icelanders still likely migrate to capital Reykjavík or leave country for high skilled tertiary sector jobs + better services
• Project negatives environmental


  - changes to landscape ad wildlife

  - Hafrahvammaglijúfur canyon lost

  - downstream ecosystem suffered not completely known

  - lake Lagarfljót local fish population collapsed

  - 2000 reindeer in area grazing land + migration routes disrupted

  - pink- footed foose and harbour seal threatened in downstream
• Cause economic


  - 2001 NPA rejected project ( substantial irreversible negative environmental impact) of 120 hydropower projects submitted

  - 4 months later overturned by government

  - series of lawsuits + protests over 1000 people in capital
• Iceland


  - constructive plate boundary (mid Atlantic ridge)

  - high density rivers and waterfalls

  - high volcanic activity