Laxá III Power Station

Laxá III Power Station is the newest power station on the Laxá River. The underground powerhouse was originally designed to accommodate two 25 MW turbines, and early plans included a large dam in the upper part of Laxárgljúfur.

These plans met strong opposition from local residents and environmental groups. When Laxá III Power Station was commissioned in 1973, only one turbine was installed and further development plans for the river were abandoned. The station therefore utilises the same 39 m head as Laxá I and is equipped with a 13.5 MW Francis turbine.

Laxárstöð I during wintertime

Laxá I was the first power station built on the Laxá River and was commissioned in 1939. Electricity generation ceased in 2013 after the station’s wooden penstock reached the end of its service life.

The station harnessed the upper part of the Brúar falls. Water was conveyed from a dam at the top of the canyon through tunnels and a canal to the powerhouse. The development had a head of 39 metres and an installed capacity of 5 MW.

The turbine units in Laxá Power Station I

Although no longer in operation, the station remains an important part of the history of electricity generation in the Laxá area. The original turbine units, commissioned in 1939 and 1944, are still in place and have been preserved.