Committed to sustainabilityCommitted to sustainability

Aron Óttarsson

Zero Waste Geothermal - Circular Economy
Thursday, May 30th, 2024 | 8:30 - 10:00 | Silfurberg B

Swimming pools, spas and natural lagoons have been an integral part of many cultures for thousands of years with research showing that bathing in natural mineral water can improve both mental and physical health. The criteria for these facilities have increased significantly throughout the years with man-made pools, spas and lagoons requiring significant energy to maintain the water quality and provide a comfortable water temperature. In Iceland the main energy source is geothermal energy with pools, lagoons and spas being able to operate with low-grade heat.

Two lagoons in Iceland, The Blue Lagoon and Mývatn Nature Baths utilize waste geothermal brine from a nearby geothermal power plant directly as an energy source allowing for better thermal energy utilization as well as value generation of an otherwise wasted stream. The geothermal brine is rich in minerals which provide guests with a unique bathing experience and health benefits, however these minerals also provide unique challenges to the process design of these facilities. In this talk some of the key design criteria such as the energy requirements and water quality maintenance will be addessed along with some of the main design challenges associated with the high mineral concentrations and their solutions.

Alexandra Kjeld

Food Security
Thursday, May 30th, 2024 | 10:30 - 12:00 | Silfurberg A

Low carbon renewable energy sources have provided the population of Iceland with electricity and district heating for almost a century. Aside from providing both electricity and hot water to communities and businesses, the geothermal energy source has been utilised in a much wider context and is now considered as one of the key factors in climate mitigation, circularity and the provision of food security, „Cradle to grave“ life cycle assessments of not only Icelandic geothermal stations but also of various products and systems in Iceland have revealed the advantages of geothermal utilisation vs other resources and have furthermore demonstrated the potential for further utilisation to support sustainability in all sectors.