| Title | Operational Disruption Risks of the Reykjavík Area District Heating System with respect to Renewed Volcanic Activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula, SW Iceland |
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| Authors | Thráinn Fridriksson, Heimir Tryggvason, Egill Thorbergsson |
| Year | 2026 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | |
| Abstract | Volcanic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula is characterized by alternating periods of activity (~400 years) and quiescence (~800 years). Recent activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula demonstrates that a period of volcanic activity has started. The main operational disruption risks for the District Heating System are related to activity in Hengill. Half of the heat production capacity of the system is in the Nesjavellir and Hellisheidi Plants, located in Hengill, and half is in four low-temperature fields within the capital area. The Nesjavellir Plant is more vulnerable to disruption by volcanic activity as it is located within a rift valley, surrounded by recent craters. The Hellisheidi Plant is located some distance west of the axis of recent volcanic activity. The pessimistic scenario assumes that lava flows from Hengill destroy the Nesjavellir Plant and take out half of the production field at Hellisheidi. This would result in a loss of 40% of the production capacity. During peak use supply to non-priority customers would be terminated and supply to households and businesses would be reduced by 25 and 50% respectively, resulting in conditions reminiscent of the pandemic when work-from-home was the norm. It is envisioned that within one year of the disruption temporary boilers to heat available return water would be installed and this would increase the capacity to about 75% of the maximum demand. We conclude that volcanic activity can potentially have a dramatic, but not catastrophic, effect on the operation of the Reykjavík District Heating. |