Bjarnarflag Geothermal Station

The Bjarnarflag Geothermal Station in the Lake Mývatn area is the smallest geothermal station owned by Landsvirkjun and the first of its kind in Iceland. The station generates 5 MW, using the steam from the geothermal area near Námafjall Mountain.

In addition to generating 42 GWh of electricity annually, Bjarnarflag provides steam for the local district heating system and industrial use, as well as geothermal water for the nature baths at Lake Mývatn.

Geologically, Iceland is relatively young. The country is a volcanic island, located on a hotspot on the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian plates meet. Geothermal heat is considerable in most parts of the country, and in many places hot water from just below the surface is used to heat homes and for energy production.

When precipitation runs through the hot bedrock, the water heats up, resulting in hot springs on the surface and steam chambers underground. In low-temperature areas, hot water is primarily used to heat homes, while high temperature areas produce hot steam under pressure.

Steam is led from boreholes to turbines inside the powerhouses of geothermal plants, transforming thermal energy into electricity. The total installed capacity of geothermal energy in Iceland is 575 MW.

Landsvirkjun operates two geothermal plants with an installed capacity of 63 MW.