Construction Begun on Geothermal District Heating Pipeline in Iceland

Construction of a new geothermal district heating pipeline is underway in rural South Iceland to the small town of Höfn. The pipeline stretches from its source nearly 20 km away. 

The geothermal area in Hoffell in Hornafjörður has been studied for many years. Rarik, state owned utility company, took over the project and has drilled exploration and production wells. Now that there is enough hot water for Höfn, construction has begun on the excavation of a nearly 20-kilometer long trench to the town and laying of the pipeline in the ground. Mannvit is supervising the construction work for the new pipeline.

Extremely Positive for Residents

The majority of the residents of Höfn in Hornafjörður, S-Iceland will receive the hot water from the new geothermal heat utility at the end of next summer and new users will be connected to the utility in Höfn and in the countryside in the first half of 2021.

“This is extremely positive for the residents. Some of the residents will have to make minor changes to make use of the geothermal heating, but in the long run this will pay off, “said Matthildur Ásmundardóttir, Mayor of Hornafjörður in an interview with local newspaper Morgunbladid.

Geothermal heating in 600-700 houses

Tryggvi Ásgrímsson, Rarik’s Technical Director, says that pipes have been laid for the prospective storage tank at the geothermal source in Hoffell. Construction of the foundations is underway as well as pumping facilities.

“I hope we can get the hot water into the pipeline in August,” Ásgrímsson said.

All houses in the town of Höfn will have the opportunity to connect to geothermal heating and 50-70 houses in neighboring rural area of Nesjum, a total of about 600-700 houses.

Rarik operates a district heating utility in Höfn, which is connected to about three quarters of the population. They are expected to be connected to the new geothermal heating at the end of August next year.