Saving 4 million tons CO2 a year
Thanks to Iceland's many volcanoes, five geothermal power and heating plants make Reykjavik an excellent example on how to make maximum use of renewable energy.
HEAT. Geothermal heat can be used by countries that sit over Magma hot spots (Photo: Visiticeland.com)
Cities contribute more than two-thirds of global greenhouse gas emissions. This is the reason why, in cooperation with the Clinton Climate Initiative, a partnership has been established to reduce carbon emissions and increase energy efficiency in large cities across the world.
Iceland highlighted
Large Cities Climate Leadership Group - C40 - provide examples of best practices within several areas. Iceland's geothermal heating system saves up to four million tons CO2 annually, it is the world's largest geothermal heating system, and it is highlighted by C40 as an excellent example of best practices in the area of renewable energy solutions.
Massive reduction in fossil fuels dependence
Iceland is the only country in the world to obtain all of the country's electricity and heat from renewable sources. 87 percent of Iceland's electricity comes from hydro-power, and the remaining 13 percent from geothermal power. And geothermal energy will increasingly be used for generating electricity in Iceland. Reykjavik has used natural hot water to heat its buildings and homes since 1930. Today, geothermal energy powers the entire capitol of Iceland. As a result, Reykjavik's dependence on fossil fuels has been reduced massively, and geothermal energy now helps the city save up to 4 million tons CO2 every year.
Hot fields and hotter fields
Geothermal heat may be utilised where natural hot springs can be found on the surface or by drilling. In Iceland, water from low temperature fields below 150°C is piped to radiators and serve as space heating. This includes heating houses, swimming pools and some greenhouses. Reykjavik even uses hot water for snow melting on roads and sidewalks. On the thermal power plants, cold water is heated and distributed to people's hot water tapping systems. Water from high temperature fields higher than 200°C is being used to generate electricity in power plants making use of steam led to steam turbines.
For more details on Iceland's heating and electricity systems, and for exploring best practices within the Large Cities Climate Leadership Group - C40 , visit the C40 website:
Reykjavik, Iceland: The world's largest geothermal heating system saves up to 4m tons CO2 annually
C40 - Large Cities Climate Leadership Group
Leading cities in the world have seen the need for action and cooperation on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Within the C40 partnership large city governments all over the world have made commitments to take action and to cooperate on reducing climate emissions.
The Large Cities Climate Leadership Group have announced partnership with the Clinton Climate Initiative, and a number of action points have been promised, including the creation of procurement policies and alliances to accelerate the uptake of climate-friendly technologies and influence the market place.
Projects connected to the Clinton Climate Initiative's Cities program include building retrofits, outdoor lighting and waste management. CCI’s Cities program helps municipal governments improve energy efficiency and measure the reductions of emissions. energy efficiency and measure the reductions of emissions.
C40 The Large Cities Climate Leadership Group
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