Environmental impact of geothermal development in the Ísafjardarbaer area, NW-Iceland

Abstract

Environmental impact assessment is a powerful environmental safeguard in the project planning process and helps public officials make proper decisions. Today environmental aspects of geothermal development are receiving increasing attention with a shift in attitudes towards the world's natural resources. More and more countries have applied the environmental impact assessment process for geothermal development. The Ísafjardarbaer area is located in NW-Iceland outside the active volcanic and rift zones, where low-temperature geothermal areas predominate. Three geothermal fields are known or postulated, Laugar, Lásvík and Gil. The geothermal fluid temperature is below 70°C. The geothermal water is suited for direct-use. To date, two geothermal production wells have been drilled in the Laugar geothermal field, near Sudureyri, used for space heating and a swimming pool for local residents. The installed capacity is about 2 MWt. A good prospect is in the outer Tungudalur valley, west of Ísafjördur town and, close to it. Two geothermal wells will probably be drilled there, to be used for space heating. The geothermal water would be transferred from the wells through a pipeline to a heating station in Ísafjördur town and then to the houses. The geothermal development may have some negative effects on the environment, such as surface disturbances, and negative effects on vegetation and wildlife due to land use and noise.