Iceland, Geothermal System and Hellisheidarvirkjun Power Plant Tour

Iceland is the poster child for renewable/sustainable energy.  There is plenty of information available regarding its relatively short (20 years) conversion to geothermal energy. 

I toured Hellisheidarvirkjun (Hellisheidi for short) Geothermal Power Station on Hengill Volcano in south Iceland, about 20 minutes southeast of Reykjavik.  (Like many things in Iceland, the spelling is unpronounceable; fortunately they have shortened it for tourism purposes!)  The tour was free and an engineer's nirvana.  The plant uses the hot water from directly out of the ground to generate electricity.  The excess hot water is then circulated throughout the countryside. 

Homes and apartments throughout Iceland have forfeited furnaces and hot water heaters.  This has been accomplished through a massive geothermal hot-water system piped across the country. It is a public utility, delivering instant 180-degree hot water to radiators and faucets in homes and buildings throughout Iceland. Eventually, the hot water is returned to the ground. It is a marvel and an inspiration.