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As mentioned in our Focus on Nature news 9th June Iceland lies on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which is the interface between American and European tectonic plates. The plates are diverging at an average rate of two centimeters per year. The gap is filled with molten lava. This is the reason for the geothermal heat in large areas of Iceland with Geysers, hot springs and muddy hot pots.
Occasionally there are volcanic activities and earthquakes, which are the results of Iceland’s position on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Recently there was an earthquake activity in the south of Iceland. This resulted in new areas of mud-pots and hot springs as you can see.
For centuries, the Icelanders have mastered these same forces and today nearly all their electrical production is by way of renewable energy sources of hydro and geothermal power.
Geothermal energy is a low-polluting, autonomous energy resource, which can provide base-load power. Electricity has been generated from geothermal since 1910 and newer plants run at 90% capacity, making geothermal power production proven and reliable.
This is also why Icelanders are leading in the harnessing of geothermal energy, investing in the development and construction of geothermal plants and in the harnessing of geothermal energy all over the world.
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