Reykjanes power station

Reykjanes power station
Reykjanes power station
	Reykjanes Power Station
Official name	Reykjanesvirkjun
Country	Iceland
Location	Reykjanes
Coordinates	63°49′35″N 22°40′55″W
Status	Operational
Commission date	May 2006
Construction cost	US$100 million
Owner(s)	HS Orka
Geothermal power station
Type	Flash steam
Min. source temp.	290 °C (550 °F)
Wells	12
Max. well depth	2,700 m (8,900 ft)
Power generation
Units operational	2 × hp 50 MW + 1 lp 30 MW
Nameplate capacity	130 MWe
External links
Commons	Related media on Commons
	[edit on Wikidata]

The Reykjanes power station (known as Reykjanesvirkjun [ˈreiːcaˌnɛsˌvɪr̥cʏn]) is a geothermal power station located in Reykjanes at the south-western tip of Iceland.

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As of 2012, the power plant generated 100MWe from two high pressure 50MWe turbines, using steam and brine from a reservoir at 290 to 320 °C (554 to 608 °F), which is extracted from 12 wells that are 2,700 m (8,900 ft) deep. This was the first time that geothermal steam of such high temperature had been used for electrical generation.^[1]

In May 2023 a low pressure 30 MWe turbine started operation, bringing the power output of the plant to 130 MW. The turbine uses low pressure steam at about 200 °C (392 °F) coming from the two high pressure turbines. The residual heat is used to heat sea water for fish farming.^[2]

The power plant was open to the public and housed the Power Plant Earth interpretative exhibition. However, the exhibit was closed in June 2018.^[3]

From December 2023 staff based at the Reykjanes power station controlled remotely the geothermal Svartsengi power station which was threatened by volcanic activity.^[4]