| Title | An Enforcement Project on Environmental Impact of Geothermal Exploitation in Iceland |
|---|---|
| Authors | Hrefna Kristmannsdóttir, Halldór Ármannsson and Kolbeinn Árnason |
| Year | 2000 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | Environmental, geothermal utilization, gas emissions, aerial thermal scanning, ground levelling, gravity measurements, natural changes |
| Abstract | Orkustofnun (Icelandic Energy Authority) and all main exploiters of high-temperature geothermal energy in Iceland, producing the Reykjanes, Svartsengi, Nesjavellir, N·mafjall and Krafla field, initiated an enforcement project to study the environmental impact of geothermal develpment in 1991. Several research institutes and agencies participated in the project, such as the Icelandic Meteorological Office of Iceland, The Science Institute and The Engineering Research Institute of the University of Iceland and the Environmental and Health Agency. The aim of the project was to establish and predict the environmental impact of geothermal utilization, and to suggest remedies. A new environmental legislation for Iceland was in preparation when the project started. Due to the increased emphasis on the environmental viability of energy production assessment of environmental impact and comparison of alternative power production possibilities with regard to environmental effects is required by Icelandic law. A status report was written about the present situation regarding environmental research in the utilized geothermal fields including suggestions for remedies and monitoring schemes. Methods were developed to measure the mass flow of steam in fumarole outlets and for the monitoring of geothermal fields by aerial thermography remote sensing methods. The concentration of sulfur gases and mercury in atmospheric air was measured in all the utilized fields and four non utilized geothermal fields and their dispersion and reaction in atmospheric air was modeled. Ground levelling and gravity mesurements were made in the utilized fields and future monitoring outlined. One priority project was the assessment of the status of environmental knowledge for the non utilized high-temperature geothermal fields in Iceland. Subsequently background data were collected and monitoring schemes initiated in a few selected fields to evaluate changes in natural features and the development of research methods for that purpose. A schedule and a cost estimate were made for the work required to carry out an environmental impact assessment for a 20 MW power plant in each field. The cooperative environmental research project was mostly concluded in 1997, but several sub-projects are still in progress and new projects have been initiated following the initial results. The course of the program and the main results are summarized in this paper. Papers and reports describing many of the largest individual sub-projects, approximately 100 titles in all, have either been published already or are in press. |