On Friday, October 19th, CELL took a field trip to the Reykjanes peninsula, an area rich in geothermal energy, to visit two geothermal-powered electricity generation plants and the Blue Lagoon: a luxurious geothermal-heated spa. Ok, it was a rough day, but someone had to do it.
Most of Iceland’s geothermal energy is in the form of hot water used to heat over 95% of its homes and office buildings. However, in the Reykjanes peninsula, they are also drilling bore holes into the earth’s crust and tapping high pressure geothermal steam used for turning turbines and generating clean, carbon-free electricity. The Blue Lagoon was created accidentally when it was discovered that the clean waste water from the power plant formed a natural hot spring. Soon, area residents and tourists were flocking here to bath in the warm and aesthetically unique hot pool. The modern Blue Lagoon facility was built several years ago, and, today, attracts over 400,000 visitors per year. The blue color is caused by the algae and minerals in the water, which is believed to have healing properties. Below are several student journal entries of our amazing learning adventure to the Blaa Lonid.
Most of Iceland’s geothermal energy is in the form of hot water used to heat over 95% of its homes and office buildings. However, in the Reykjanes peninsula, they are also drilling bore holes into the earth’s crust and tapping high pressure geothermal steam used for turning turbines and generating clean, carbon-free electricity. The Blue Lagoon was created accidentally when it was discovered that the clean waste water from the power plant formed a natural hot spring. Soon, area residents and tourists were flocking here to bath in the warm and aesthetically unique hot pool. The modern Blue Lagoon facility was built several years ago, and, today, attracts over 400,000 visitors per year. The blue color is caused by the algae and minerals in the water, which is believed to have healing properties. Below are several student journal entries of our amazing learning adventure to the Blaa Lonid.
Journal Entry by Sarah Oakes, CELL student from Hope, Maine: Smoke billows out of the smoke stacks rising upwards into the atmospher
e masking the blue sky with white and grey. Pipelines cover the area leading to the five different grinding, gurgling power plants. But something is different here than most other power plants. First of all, there are no people around, no parking lots or cars. The white smoke pouring out of these smoke stacks is pure, clean, non-poluting steam and the pipelines and power plants are carrying and producing clean energy and water. These power plants are geothermal plants - a system of five connected stations in the area. The plants are all automated and all five plants are run by two people. Amazing.
e masking the blue sky with white and grey. Pipelines cover the area leading to the five different grinding, gurgling power plants. But something is different here than most other power plants. First of all, there are no people around, no parking lots or cars. The white smoke pouring out of these smoke stacks is pure, clean, non-poluting steam and the pipelines and power plants are carrying and producing clean energy and water. These power plants are geothermal plants - a system of five connected stations in the area. The plants are all automated and all five plants are run by two people. Amazing. On Friday, the CELL group of students got a very interesting tour through these power plants and learned how they function. I was fascinated to find out about the closed loop process of the system, and to develop questions about geothermal energy used throughout the world. First, we traveled to the bore holes, which are 2000 to 3000 meter deep holes in the ground where the geothermal energ
y is harnessed. These bore holes have very intense pressure in their depths where the geothermal steam is found. This steam and liquid travels through insulated pipes to the power plants where it turns turbines to produce power which is used for electricity. In one of the power plants, the geothermal steam travels through the pipes to a binary engine to fuel three generators from the same steam. The liquid that comes out of the power plants does one of four things: Fifty percent of the water that comes out of the power plant is put back into the ground to replenish the stores of geothermal energy that are harnessed. Some of the water travels through cement pipes to the ocean, and is cooled as it travels to be closer to the temperature of the ocean. Some water is cooled and sent to towns in the area for home heating. The remainder of the water is pumped into the Blue Lagoon, which is one of the most popular tourist sites in Iceland. This "wastewater" that comes to the Blue Lagoon is very pure and clean saltwater. The geothermal power plants take the heat from the water and do n
ot contaminate the water in any way. The water in the BlueLagoon has lots of minerals and silica which has many health benefits and is good for skin diseases, not to mention that it is a wonderful recreational site.
y is harnessed. These bore holes have very intense pressure in their depths where the geothermal steam is found. This steam and liquid travels through insulated pipes to the power plants where it turns turbines to produce power which is used for electricity. In one of the power plants, the geothermal steam travels through the pipes to a binary engine to fuel three generators from the same steam. The liquid that comes out of the power plants does one of four things: Fifty percent of the water that comes out of the power plant is put back into the ground to replenish the stores of geothermal energy that are harnessed. Some of the water travels through cement pipes to the ocean, and is cooled as it travels to be closer to the temperature of the ocean. Some water is cooled and sent to towns in the area for home heating. The remainder of the water is pumped into the Blue Lagoon, which is one of the most popular tourist sites in Iceland. This "wastewater" that comes to the Blue Lagoon is very pure and clean saltwater. The geothermal power plants take the heat from the water and do n
ot contaminate the water in any way. The water in the BlueLagoon has lots of minerals and silica which has many health benefits and is good for skin diseases, not to mention that it is a wonderful recreational site. The power plants producing the geothermal energy are very environmentally conscious. The power plants we visited are, by their own desire, surpassing all environmental requirements and are very careful about the temperature of the water produced when it is put into the ocean.The plants spent $1 million to direct the pipeline construction around a lava field instead of taking the direct route through it, so as to preserve the lava field and to blend with the natural, aesthetic beauty of this area.The power plants are also researching deepdrilling (drilling down to a depth of 5 kilometers) to the super critical zone which will produce ten times as much energy as the normal bore holes do now. However, the environmental impacts of this type of drilling are being closely looked at, and the process is still being researched. It was fascinating learning all about how these plants and others throughout Iceland that are harnessing geothermal energy and heat with almost no negative environmental impacts. With the large stores of geothermal energy throughout Iceland, the research and production of geothermal energy makes great sense. As the country researches the possibility of deep drilling to produce more energy, I began to wonder what the environmental impacts of continued deep drilling would be? Although geothermal is an excellent alternative energy, it is important that it is not over used. I wonder if the Iceland Deep Drilling Project is looking into the environmental impacts and looking at how to replenish the stores of geothermal water. As I was going through the day, I started thinking about what kind of impact deep drilling for geothermal wou
ld have on other areas of the world. Iceland is very experienced in the area of geothermal, and has begun exporting its knowledge and expertise on geothermal power to other countries. However, is it feasible for other countries to drill for geothermal? Iceland has a small population of 300,000 people and the massive amounts of geothermal the country has in store can supply the energy needs for the people. But what about the U.S., for example, that has rich geothermal stores, but has 300 million people? How much of our population's energy needs could be supplied by geothermal? Is geothermal a potential answer? I think sometimes people focus on one solution to our energy needs, when the answer lies in a combination of many viable solutions. Geothermal energy might not provide for all energy
needs in the U.S., but it could be a piece of the pie. Geothermal combined with wind and solar and other alternative energy sources is a better solution and fits energy needs better than one single solution. It is important as we research alternative energy sources and shift towards a renewable energy based society, that we are open to creative ideas that will enable us to collaborate and find the solutions that are best tailored to individual communities, countries, and continents
ld have on other areas of the world. Iceland is very experienced in the area of geothermal, and has begun exporting its knowledge and expertise on geothermal power to other countries. However, is it feasible for other countries to drill for geothermal? Iceland has a small population of 300,000 people and the massive amounts of geothermal the country has in store can supply the energy needs for the people. But what about the U.S., for example, that has rich geothermal stores, but has 300 million people? How much of our population's energy needs could be supplied by geothermal? Is geothermal a potential answer? I think sometimes people focus on one solution to our energy needs, when the answer lies in a combination of many viable solutions. Geothermal energy might not provide for all energy
needs in the U.S., but it could be a piece of the pie. Geothermal combined with wind and solar and other alternative energy sources is a better solution and fits energy needs better than one single solution. It is important as we research alternative energy sources and shift towards a renewable energy based society, that we are open to creative ideas that will enable us to collaborate and find the solutions that are best tailored to individual communities, countries, and continents Journal Entry from Sara Domek, a CELL student from Wyoming: .
Our visit to the brilliant waters of Iceland´s spectacularly calming Blue Lagoon inspired in me a renewed awe and respect for Iceland´s energy development. Not only is this country leading the way in new approaches to energy development, the innovations behind these ideas are founded on a commitment to public awareness and involvement. As every Icelandic adventure has proven (from the Soil Conservation Society to the National Energy Authority), the top-down approach to energy development is not followed here in Iceland. The big-name companies developing the renewable energy at this rich geothermal hot-spot open not only their
clean, healthy waste-water to the public, but also their industrial facilities. This past Friday, we were welcomed into the geothermal power plants, invited to indulge one of the most amazing lunches I have ever enjoyed, and sent off to soak off our big day in the Lagoon... and all this was paid for by the geothermal power company!
Our visit to the brilliant waters of Iceland´s spectacularly calming Blue Lagoon inspired in me a renewed awe and respect for Iceland´s energy development. Not only is this country leading the way in new approaches to energy development, the innovations behind these ideas are founded on a commitment to public awareness and involvement. As every Icelandic adventure has proven (from the Soil Conservation Society to the National Energy Authority), the top-down approach to energy development is not followed here in Iceland. The big-name companies developing the renewable energy at this rich geothermal hot-spot open not only their
clean, healthy waste-water to the public, but also their industrial facilities. This past Friday, we were welcomed into the geothermal power plants, invited to indulge one of the most amazing lunches I have ever enjoyed, and sent off to soak off our big day in the Lagoon... and all this was paid for by the geothermal power company! Now, I am not one to typically be swayed by fancy luxuries or silica-clay mud masks, but I must say that Iceland´s geothermal power plant has won my admiration, and for much broader reasons than this generous day. As we have discussed throughout this semester, Icelanders seem to have a great sense of responsibility: organizations and the government are always searching for better ways to involve the public, companies seek out more sustainable approaches to industrial development, and the leaders of
this country are the first to admit that there are always, always improvements in the initiatives and methods being used for different problems. Our guide at the geothermal power plant was so open and willing to share not only the numerous positive choices being made here, but he humbly shared with us what approaches needed improvement. I believe that this humbleness, this awareness and acknowledgment of the fact that there are always was to be better benefits this country in its endeavors in every way possible. By openly recognizing that they can become more sustainable, more devoted to environmental protection, and communicate and interact even better with the public invites these individuals, these companies, and this country to join in this movement as a collective. The doors to innovative and creative new thought are wide open in Iceland, and I believe the success of
this model is hard to ignore. Countries which seem to be struggling on the path towards sustainability must acknowledge their failures, learn from these, share them with the public, and be willing to stand up, build support, and, with renewed strength and passion, join in the
collective towards a better future. This may seem like a strange conclusion to be drawn from our day at the Blue Lagoon, but the innovations and awareness which were exemplified during this visit reinforced these ideals (and my responsibility to share them). I believe a day in the healing waters of the Blue Lagoon has the power to inspire a lot of creative change in
anyone...perhaps we should invite President Bush over for a tour and soak?
No comments:
Post a Comment