• 3 minutes e-car sales collapse
  • 6 minutes America Is Exceptional in Its Political Divide
  • 11 minutes Perovskites, a ‘dirt cheap’ alternative to silicon, just got a lot more efficient
  • 2 hours GREEN NEW DEAL = BLIZZARD OF LIES
  • 7 days If hydrogen is the answer, you're asking the wrong question
  • 20 hours How Far Have We Really Gotten With Alternative Energy
  • 11 days Biden's $2 trillion Plan for Insfrastructure and Jobs

Breaking News:

Hess Board Recommends Merger With Chevron

UK Look to Iceland's Geothermal Sector to Help Achieve Energy Security

Iceland boasts between 20 and 30 active volcanoes, and due to this abundant geothermal activity has a thriving geothermal energy sector. The UK is currently looking into the possibility of importing this energy in an attempt to help it reach its renewable energy targets, and secure energy supplies to meet its future needs. The deal, if it goes ahead, will also greatly benefit Iceland whose banks failed back in 2008 as its economy collapsed. UK Energy Minister, Charles Hendry, said that the two governments are in discussions and that the Icelandic officials are “keen” on the idea.

In order to import the geothermal electricity a 1000-1500km interconnector will have to be built between Iceland and the UK, the longest in the world, and something that will prove to be a huge engineering challenge.

The UK government already has ambitious plans to connect its energy grid to other countries in Europe. They already have connections to Europe via the Netherlands and France, and another connection to Ireland will be completed this year. UK Ministers are also looking at the potential for connections to Norway and Belgium’s hydropower, the Channel Island’s tidal power, and France’s nuclear power.

Hendry said that the interconnecting cables “are an absolutely critical part of energy security and for low carbon energy.” They will be essential for keeping UK electricity prices competitive. The dense network of interconnectors will also reduce the need for traditional power stations to support renewable energy sources, because energy could be imported if domestic supply was low.

Tony Glover, head of press and public affairs at the Energy Networks Association, said that, “from an energy industry perspective interconnectors will be important in enabling renewable energy by providing a solution to wind intermittency. They also add diversity to our electricity mix and strengthen security of supply.”

By. James Burgess of Oilprice.com



Join the discussion | Back to homepage



Leave a comment
  • Mel Tisdale on April 17 2012 said:
    It is items like this one that give people such as myself confidence that the powers that be are genuinely aware of just how urgent is the need to combat climate change and combat it if possible in a manner that is as disruptive as little as possible. It will be interesting to see what the reaction of the climate change denialati is.

Leave a comment

EXXON Mobil -0.35
Open57.81 Trading Vol.6.96M Previous Vol.241.7B
BUY 57.15
Sell 57.00
Oilprice - The No. 1 Source for Oil & Energy News