Iceland is learning to control its volcanoes: this is how it generates 90% of the country’s energy

Iceland has learned to dominate its volcanoes. A scenario that already predicted the surprising project by which he absorbed it from the atmosphere. Icelanders are pioneers in using geothermal energy for indoor heating. In fact, 90% of homes in the country are heated with geothermal water. Iceland. Clean and economical hot water reaches homes directly through boreholes and pipes. The rest of the buildings are heated with electricity from renewable sources.

Many call the island “The Land of Fire and Ice” because of the inherited beauty of its volcanoes and geysers, which contribute to the creation of an internationally famous clean energy system that receives 99% of its electricity from clean energy sources that combine geothermal sources with hydroelectric . The role of the geothermal element in this context is crucial for the profitability of the model. Until recently, the widespread view was that the energy model of Iceland It was a single cut and it was impossible to export or reproduce it.

However, a series of scientific innovations have demonstrated this Iceland It can become an example for the energy policy of various countries. The optimal extraction of geothermal energy It requires the concentrated presence of three factors: permeable earth, underground heat and water. A premise reflected in the existence of active volcanoes, geothermal springs, hot springs and geysers.

Iceland knows how to dominate its volcanoes: it generates 90% of the country’s energy with this technique

Geological activity maintains the Earth’s internal temperature Tierraallowing access to extractable energy from the Earth’s surface. If a single feature is ignored, large-scale geothermal generation becomes complex. This is why even tectonically active areas look like this Japan, Patagonia, East Africa and New Zealand have historically lagged behind in geothermal production.

Iceland It considers on its territory the three characteristics necessary to access geothermal energy. However, the successful Icelandic geothermal energy model lies not only in the area’s natural resources. It is also based on the development of positive feedback loops in which geological activity complements the strengths and weaknesses of other green energy sources instead of limiting themselves to the production of electricity for consumption. In principle and taking this into account, Iceland could use its geothermal energy much more.

The geothermal energy adds to the potential of solar panels. It also makes hydro more consistent, warms carbon technology and much more. According to reports Forbestransforming the use of geothermal energy as a force multiplier Iceland in one of the most energy efficient countries in the world.

Iceland continues to engage in geothermal energy projects

Even if geothermal energy is ‘under control’, Iceland remains involved in projects that want to make much more use of this type of energy. One of them has the world in suspense. It’s about a group of scientific engineers Iceland which plans to dig a tunnel into a magma chamber to take advantage of the high temperatures and produce geothermal energy. In the coming years, the team plans to drill near a deposit of molten rock near the volcano Current. The project aims to bring the country to the forefront in clean energy and seismic activity studies.

The company Krafla Magma Testbed (KMT) He has been exploring the surface of Iceland for more than ten years, looking for a suitable place to conduct experiments with magma. on site. They want to use the glowing material that is abundant in the area to power the region without having to resort to fossil fuels.

In short, Iceland It has learned to dominate its volcanoes and plans to continue exploiting them to achieve the unthinkable with geothermal energy. A goal that Spain is also pursuing, namely a plan to find the same energy that Iceland is proud of.