Landsvirkjun, (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈlan(t)sˌvɪr̥cʏn]) the National Power Company of Iceland, is Iceland's largest electricity generator.[1] Landsvirkjun operates 21 power plants in Iceland concentrated on five main areas of operation.[2]
Company type | public partnership |
---|---|
Industry | energy |
Founded | 1 July 1965 |
Founder | city of Reykjavík the state of Iceland |
Headquarters | , |
Key people | Jónas Þór Guðmundsson, chairman Hörður Arnarson, CEO |
Products | electricity |
Owner | the state of Iceland |
Subsidiaries | Landsnet Landsvirkjun Power Orkufjarskipti Icelandic Power Insurance Hraunaveita |
Website | www |
History
editLandsvirkjun was founded on 1 July 1965 by the state of Iceland and the city of Reykjavík.[3] The city of Reykjavík contributed to the company three power stations on the Sog River.[4] Shortly after its founding construction on[clarification needed] the Búrfell hydropower station began.[5] From 1965 until 2005 the purpose of Landsvirkjun was to produce and distribute high voltage electricity. The municipality of Akureyri acquired a 5% share in Landsvirkjun in 1983 and became the third owner.[6] Three hydropower stations on the Laxá River previously owned by the municipality of Akureyri were merged into Landsvirkjun.[7][4] The hydropower stations Búrfell, Sigalda, Hrauneyjafoss, Blanda, Sultartangi, Vatnsfell, and Fljótsdalsstöð were all built by Landsvirkjun. The geothermal power station Krafla came under Landsvirkjun's ownership in 1985.[8] Through a new electricity act in 2005 the company's Transmission Division became Landsnet, an independent limited company and a subsidiary of Landsvirkjun.[9]
Landsnet owns and operates the Icelandic transmission system and manages the country's electricity system.[10] In 2007 the state of Iceland took over the ownership shares of Akureyri and Reykjavík in Landsvirkjun, turning it into a public partnership, fully owned by the state of Iceland.[11] In December 2012, Landsvirkjun erected two wind turbines, in an area known as Hafið, within the construction area of Búrfell Power Station, in the south of Iceland. The turbines have a total of 2 MW of installed power.[12]
Power stations
editLandsvirkjun has 21 power stations, of which 15 are hydropower stations, three geothermal power stations and two wind power field.
Station | Year built | Type | Nameplate capacity (MW) |
Production (GWh/year) |
Capacity factor |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laxá I[13] | 1939 | Hydropower | 5 | 3 | 6.8% |
Laxá II[14] | 1953 | Hydropower | 9 | 78 | 98.9% |
Laxá III[15] | 1973 | Hydropower | 13.5 | 92 | 77.8% |
Ljósafoss[16] | 1937 | Hydropower | 16 | 105 | 74.1% |
Írafoss[17] | 1953 | Hydropower | 48 | 236 | 56.1% |
Steingrímsstöð[18] | 1959 | Hydropower | 27 | 122 | 51.6% |
Búrfell [5] | 1969 | Hydropower | 270 | 2300 | 97.2% |
Sigalda[19] | 1978 | Hydropower | 150 | 920 | 70.0% |
Hrauneyjafoss[20] | 1981 | Hydropower | 210 | 1300 | 70.7% |
Blanda[21] | 1991 | Hydropower | 150 | 990 | 75.3% |
Sultartangi[22] | 1999 | Hydropower | 125 | 1020 | 93.1% |
Vatnsfell[23] | 2001 | Hydropower | 90 | 490 | 62.1% |
Fljótsdalur[24] | 2007 | Hydropower | 690 | 4800 | 79.4% |
Búðarháls[25] | 2014 | Hydropower | 95 | 585 | 70.3% |
Krafla[8] | 1977 | Geothermal | 60 | 500 | 95.1% |
Bjarnarflag[26] | 1969 | Geothermal | 5 | 42 | 95.9% |
Theistareykir[27] | 2017 | Geothermal | 90 | 738 | 93.6% |
Hafið[12] | 2013 | Windpower | 1.8 | 6.7 | 42.5% |
Sum by type (calculated figure) | Hydropower | 1898.5 | 13041 | 78.4% | |
Sum by type (calculated figure) | Geothermal | 155 | 1280 | 94.3% | |
Sum total (calculated figure) | All types combined | 2055.3 | 14327.7 | 79.6% |
Subsidiaries
editLandsvirkjun has five subsidiaries:
- Landsnet (64.7% of shares are owned by Landsvirkjun) is the transmission system operator (TSO) of the Icelandic high-voltage electricity grid.
- Landsvirkjun Power uses Landsvirkjun's knowledge to conduct consultancy projects in matters related to energy on the international market.
- Orkufjarskipti provides telecommunication services.
- Icelandic Power Insurance is a captive insurance company, which handles insurance and reinsurance for Landsvirkjun's power stations and, in addition, supervises insurance for construction projects.
- Hraunaveita ehf. took on specific tasks in connection with the Kárahnjúkar Project, but now has no operations.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Landsvirkjun". www.hydropower.org. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "Power stations - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "Landsvirkjun.com - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ a b "History of Reykjavík Energy". www.or.is. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Búrfell power station - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "On ice - International Water Power". www.waterpowermagazine.com. 20 April 2004. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "The Laxa River in North Iceland has 3 hydro power stations with a capacity of 28 MW". www.diamondringroad.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Krafla Power Station - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "EUR-Lex - E2015C0319(01) - EN - EUR-Lex". eur-lex.europa.eu. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "Business". www.landsnet.is. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY DECISION of 14 December 2011 on the power contract between Landsvirkjun and Íslenska kísilfélagið ehf. (Iceland)" (PDF). European Free Trade Association Surveillance Authority: 2. 14 December 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Hafið - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "Laxá Power Station I - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "Laxá Power Station II - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "Laxá Power Station III - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "Ljósafoss Power Station - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "Írafossstod Power Station - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "Steingrímsstöd Power Station - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "Sigalda Power Station - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "Hrauneyjafoss Power Station - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "Blöndustöð - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "Sultartangi Power Station - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "Vatnsfell Power Station - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "Fljótsdalur Power Station - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "Búðarhálsstöð - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "Bjarnarflag Power Station - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "Theistareykir Geothermal Station - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.