Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
thermal energy is used each year for heating and industrial uses.
In spite of its carbon-free electric power and the widespread use of
geothermal heating, Iceland has high CO 2 emissions per capita. Typical
developed countries emitted about 12 metric tons per capita in 1990,
whereas Iceland emitted about 8.5 metric tons per capita. All forms of en-
ergy including renewables can affect the environment. Geothermal power
can produce some emission of CO 2 , about 100 grams (g) per kilowatt-watt
hour (kWh), which is roughly 30% of the emissions of an efficient com-
bined cycle natural gas plant.
Using some of its renewable energy would allow Iceland to produce
hydrogen and replace all the oil used for the country's transportation and
fishing industry. There would still be emissions from industrial processes
such as aluminum and ferrosilicon production, but this plan would cut
the country's fossil fuel use dramatically. Iceland has about 170 megawatts
(MW) of geothermal electric power generation which provide more than
1.3 million MWh per year. Its hydroelectric plants have a capacity of ap-
proximately 1,000-MW and supply almost 7 million MWh per year of elec-
tric power. The current capacity at hydroelectric plants would allow sig-
nificant hydrogen production.
The hydrogen could be produced during non-peak hours and stored
until it is needed. This would allow Iceland to replace almost one fourth
of the fossil fuels consumed by vehicles and vessels using its present gen-
erating capacity.
Iceland could also develop wind power with coastal or offshore fa-
cilities. A study indicated that 240 wind power plants could produce the
electricity needed to replace fossil fuel from vehicles and fisheries.
Other studies suggest that only 17% of Iceland's renewable energy
has been developed. This renewable electricity has been estimated at up to
50 million MWh per year for hydropower and geothermal. This represents
six times the current renewable energy capacity.
In 1978, it was proposed that Iceland develop hydrogen. Support
grew in the 1990s, because of advances in fuel cell technology and con-
cerns about climate changes and a dependence on oil. By 1999, Shell,
DaimlerChrysler, Norsk Hydro, an Icelandic holding company Vistorka
hf (EcoEnergy) and others created the Icelandic Hydrogen and Fuel Cell
Company, now called Icelandic New Energy Ltd. This group with the
backing of the government and the European Union started Iceland on
the path to hydrogen.
Since almost 65% of the population lives near the capital of Reykjavik
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