Private power operator HS Orka has announced the intention to start with the 30 MW expansion of its Reykjanes geothermal power plant in the near future. The planned expansion will increase production capacity from 100 MW to 130 MW. HS Orka’s engineers have been working on the design and preparation for these last few months together with consultants, and all formalities are in place.

Bids for the project will be advertised in the next few days. “This is a power plant that everyone should be able to accept, because no further drilling is needed due to this expansion. We simply intend to make better use of the resource, “says Tómas Már Sigurðsson, CEO of the company, in a conversation in Icelandic news outlet Morgunbladid this week.

The expansion of Reykjanesvirkjun will utilize waste heat from the current power plant. With utilising excess heat from the plant, the company avoids having to drill additional well allowing for better utilisation of the resources. “This is an innovative project. When the Reykjanes plant was first put into operation, it was not clear that this heat could be utilized. Through research and development, we have managed to make this possible, “says the CEO. Construction on this expansion is expected to begin early in the new year and take approximately two years.

The company is seeing it as unlikely that more large-scale power plants will be built in Iceland in the near future with a change in emphasis related to energy. Therefore, one needs to make better use of the resources already being harnessed in the future – and there are many options, according to the CEO of HS Orka.