How is it that renewable energy is made?

Energy creation is tricky and can be difficult to explain, linked below is a series of videos to help explain as well as brief explanations if the videos are not available to watch.

There are different forms of renewable energy that is utilized within Reykjavík, Iceland:

Geothermal: Geothermal energy is the process of conducting heat generated below the surface of the Earth into plants, where the heat can then be converted into energy to power homes and businesses.

 

Hydropower: The utilization of natural water sources and their flows to create energy via turbines. This can be done in two different ways, either with run-off or damming.

 

Wind-power: The utilization of wind, which spins wind turbines, to generate energy.

 

Why did Iceland Turn to Renewable Energy?

 

“Renewable resources are plentiful and reliable, so a renewable-based future will be founded on abundance and predictability rather than scarcity and volatility.” – Stephens (2020)

 

 

In an interview with Sveinn Olafsson, I asked about how Iceland moved into geothermal energy and why. Olafsson stated that: 

“The first significant step taken by Iceland to move away from fossil fuels to sustainable energy was when geothermal water was harnessed to heat buildings in our capital Reykjavík in the first half of the 20th century. At that time, most houses were heated with coal and oil, resulting in significant air pollution on calm winter days. Iceland was a poor country at that time and struggled to earn hard currency to be able to import what was needed for a growing nation.”

Iceland’s history with fossil fuels begins prior to World War Two, all the way back to the 1800s (Buchsbaum & Hockenos, 2023; The Hydro, 2017). During this time until 1990, Iceland was covered in a black cloud of soot and pollution (Buchsbaum & Hockenos, 2023). While there was interest in hydropower and geothermal energy, it was greatly halted over concerns of selling their natural beauty to other countries (The Hydro, 2017). Which, as Olafsson stated, would be needed due to the lack of economic wealth.

Unlike most countries, Iceland’s industrial age was not marked with coal powered factories, but with production of hydropower after World War Two sprouted the countries economy and population (The Hydro, 2017). After this, Iceland became one of the pioneers in energy exploration and development for other countries as well (The Hydro, 2017). In particular, Iceland’s frameworks have expanded into places like Chile, Japan, and parts of Africa (Cohen, 2023; S. Olafsson, Personal Communication, April 1, 2024). 

After this, Iceland enacted several initiatives to start moving forward. Much of the geothermal production occurred after Iceland’s Deep Drilling Project, which allowed companies to begin creating more plants to meet the needs of a growing population, (Buchsbuam & Hockenos, 2023). Other initiatives also contributed to this increase, like the Geothermal Training Programme, since 1978, which has allowed for students to become educated in this area and commit to a more sustainable future (Buchsbuam & Hockenos, 2023). 

Commitment to Resilience and Equity

Going into a new age of climate justice, it is easy to point out how Iceland is ahead of many countries regarding issues of climate change. As pointed out by Stephens (2020), many climate change solutions or aids are “only accessible to the rich” (p. 6). These options like driving electric vehicles, becoming educated and having the money to do so are all very limited in the United States. However, in Iceland, it seems those disparities are being closed. Iceland alone utilizes their infrastructure and incentives to make the purchasing of an electric vehicle (EV), such as a Tesla, available to those who are more middle to lower class (Carbonaro, 2022). These incentives make it so that EV’s are affordable, something that here in the United States we do not have as much of. When we here in the United States hear of someone purchasing a Tesla or even an EV in general all we here are dollar signs, but in Iceland, it is highly regarded as a normal or even the cheaper option. 

Having changes like this completely available to the public, it allows for economic disparities to not have to be a barrier to committing to a sustainable life. Even if someone does not have an EV, their everyday life is more highly sustainable due to their energy production alone. Renewable energy is widely regarded as a cheap energy source, and while initial costs can be expensive, to maintain and distribute is not nearly as expensive as fossil fuels (Duffield & Sass, 2003). It also goes without saying that renewable energy enables Iceland to be self-reliant. Renewable energy is completely determined by natural sources like volcanos, rivers, and weather, whereas fossil fuels are imported from very specific countries that are able to siphon oil. 

 

 

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