Tuesday 25.August 2009
In June RES Graduate Students traveled around Iceland to visit sites that use and harness renewable energy, as well as to experience both culture and nature.
As part of the course curricula, RES Graduate Students had a 10-day study tour in June. The purpose of the tour was to visit facilities that harness or utilise renewable energy around Iceland.
Thetour also took the students to some of the most remote and unique places in Iceland and gave them an opportunity to learn about and witness the diversities of Icelandic nature.
Group photo at Hellisheidarvirkjun Geothermal Powerplant
Course Description
Geothermal energy: High- and low-temperature geothermal fields in North and Southwest Iceland; geothermal power plants at Hellisheidi power plant; geothermal district heating systems in Akureyri
and Reykjavik; health spas and swimming pools utilising geothermal waters at Akureyri swimming pool, and the Blue Lagoon in Svartsengi; Iceland Drilling drill sites; examples of industrial plants
using geothermal water in their operations; and visit to Orkustofnun (National Energy Authority) and ISOR in Reykjavík.
Hydropower: Small hydropower plants in North Iceland; medium-size plants in the Thjorsa/Tungna River area in South-Iceland; the large Karahnjukar Power Plant (690MW) in East-Iceland; and visit
to the control operations of the electricity.
Fuel Cell Systems and Hydrogen: Visit to the hydrogen production, storage and fueling station in Reykjavik; visit to Corbon Recycling International; visit to the research lab on hydrogen storage
at the University of Iceland (Bragastofa) and visit to the Iceland Innovation Centre.
Biofuels: Visit to a methane production facility at the Reykjavik landfill; methane production company METAN; SORPA biomass recycling facilities; biotechnology company Proktain and Prokaria; and
facilities producing ethanol, methanol and hydrogen from biomass.
Energy Policies: Visit to the President of Iceland at Bessastadir; Geysir Green Energy
Daily Schedule for the Study Tour
The study tour took place 7 - 14 June 2009
| Day 1 Introduction to the study tour programme, travel from Akureyri to East Iceland. Visit to Alcoa aluminum smelting plant in Reyðarfjörður Alcoa |
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| Day 2 Visit to Kárahnjúkar Powerplant, dam site and Flótsdalur powerstation, as well as reception at the Development Centre of East Iceland. Kárahnjúkar Powerplant East Iceland Development Centre |
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| Day 3 Travel day from East Iceland to Þakgil in South Iceland, with stops at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and Skaftafell national park. |
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| Day 4 Travel from South Iceland, with stops at Skógarfoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls. Visits to Hellisheidi Geothermal Powerplant, drilling sites and Iceland Drilling. Hellisheidi Geothermal Plant Iceland Drilling |
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| Day 6 Visit to Bragastofa - the Hydrogen Energy Research Institute at the University of Iceland, CRI - Carbon Recycling International, Iceland Innovation Centre, Sorpa landfill site and Metan methane production company, as well as visit to Blue Lagoon and presentation by Geysir Green Energy. Hydrogen Energy Research Institute CRI - Carbon Recycling International Iceland Innovation Centre Sorpa Metan Geysir Green Energy |
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| Day 7 Visits to Prokaria and Prokatin Biothechnology Companies, as well as to ISOR - Iceland GeoSurvey, National Energy Authority United Nations University - Geothermal Programme. Reception hosted by the President of Iceland at his residency at Bessastaðir and reception by the Embassy of the United States in Reykjavik. Prokaria Prokatin ISOR - Iceland GeoSurvey National Energy Authority President of Iceland |
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| Day 8 Free time, sightseeing and cultural activities |
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