SMARTrenew partner, Orkusetur, is an energy agency within the National Energy Authority in Iceland.
A design concept for heat extraction from cold sea, down to 1°C, was developed by Orkusetur, for the town of Seyðisfjörður (Seydisfjordur), East Iceland, involving in later stages a hybrid heat pump and wood pellet system.
Due to considerations for a geothermal pipeline through a road tunnel that has been put forward in time, the concept for Seydisfjordur was generalized for towns with similar external conditions.
SMARTrenew Iceland soon shifted to the Island of Grímsey (Grimsey), north from Iceland and belonging to the municipality of Akureyri (North Iceland), where the Iceland project partners are physically located.
The Grimsey islanders (61 inhabitants) still use oil for electricity generation and heating purposes. Due to the distance from mainland Iceland, Grimsey is not connected to the renewable electricity grid, and has to use diesel electric generators.
SMARTrenew has selected wind turbines, solar and battery solutions (refurbished electric vehicle battery) that will integrate with the existing diesel system. This marks a firm step towards green energy on the island. A full replacement of diesel power will be achieved under the SMARTrenew pilot, where several hundred kW wind turbines are implemented together with water heaters and electrical batteries, providing the required power load and energy storage (heat and electric storage).
The wind-solar-battery SMARTrenew pilot solution, integrates into the existing energy system and provides a path towards a fully renewable society on the island and thereby eliminating the final ‘black spot’ in the otherwise renewable energy system in Iceland.
Overall electric energy production in Iceland is 19.828.868 MWh. The corresponding production in Grimsey is 795 MWh, or 0.004 %. Although small, there is a need replace it.
Pilot Achievements
- Analyzed energy use and proposed heating solutions for Seydisfjordur
- Analyzed energy use in Grimsey and proposed renewable energy solutions
- Visited Pilot Point in Alaska to learn about a 2x100 kW wind turbine project for a community of similar size as Grimsey
- Participated in re-writing government contract for energy supply in Grimsey – a prerequisite for the addition of renewable energy to the existing diesel generation system
- Collaborated with the local power company Fallorka on installations of project solutions; 2x6 kW wind turbine, 10 kW solar panels and 24 kWh refurbished EV battery
- Involved stakeholders around the country and provided a path forward for rural communities in Iceland
For further information contact Ragnar Ásmundsson rka{at}os.isor Sigurður Friðleifsson sif{at}os.is http://orkusetur.is/