Pros and Cons

Geothermal energy as it stands is possibly one of the best options in energy production. Its benefits appear to greatly outweigh the cons, but how do the cons impact the planet? Themes introduced, such as generativity, are pulled from Agyeman (2013), and their opening chapter of Just Sustainabilites. If you would like to view another source of Pros and Cons, click here.

 

PROS:

  • Affordability: As promised by Iceland’s Energy Act of 2003, Iceland’s energy remains to be affordable and obtainable for almost all Icelanders (Geothermal, n.d., S. Olafsson, Personal Communication, April 1, 2024). Renewable energy in general is overall more affordable after initial start up costs, unlike fossil fuels, which have continuous import and export costs (Duffield & Sass, 2003). 

 

  • Sustainability: Iceland’s overall energy is a mix of many forms of renewable energy, such as solar, wind, hydro and geothermal (S. Olafsson, Personal Communication, April 1, 2024). As for general heat production, 90% of Iceland’s homes are warmed by geothermal energy, a feat that not many other countries have even come close to (Buchsbuam & Hockenos, 2023). The production itself is worth noting, as energy production and residential do not significantly contribute to CO2 emissions in the country (See Figure 1). 

 

  • Generativity: Iceland’s renewable sources of energy contribute to a bright future for their youth. Due to low costs, low emissions, and overall access, Icelander’s youth overall do not need to fear ever having to live without energy (S. Olafsson, Personal Communication, April 1, 2024).

 

Figure 1 

(Iceland IEA, n.d.)

 

CONS:

  • Construction Emissions: The building of power plants, generators and pumps, all require some form of machinery to be constructed, which can be deduced by basic knowledge of construction. Most construction machinery, such as cranes, require the use of oil and other fossil fuels that contribute to CO2 emissions. While the production of energy is clean, the building is not. Iceland’s majority of COS emissions does in fact come from transportation and vehicles, which is something to consider when exploring the possible side effects (See Figure 1). 

 

  • Location: Geothermal energy specifically is only possible when the location has sources of heat that are greater than 100°C (or 212°F) (Marsh, 2021). This makes geothermal energy limited to places like Yellow Stone National Park, in an American example. It is important to mention this is for any renewable source. Just because one area does not have heat reservoirs, does not mean they can not utilize a different source of energy, like wind or sunlight. 

 

  • High cost: Iceland was only able to begin building power plants after World War Two, after a great economic and population boom (The Hydro, 2017). Due to high costs, many countries may need economic assistance from other richer places to build renewable energy sources. However, there are many initiatives that Iceland and other countries offer to help those who are in developing countries start up energy production. 

See Works Cited post on the side panel for all references used.