Landsvirkjun

Landsvirkjun
Company typepublic partnership
Industryenergy
Founded1 July 1965 (1965-07-01)
Foundercity of Reykjavík
the state of Iceland
Headquarters
Reykjavík
,
Iceland
Key people
Jón Björn Hákonarson, chairman
Hörður Arnarson, CEO
Productselectricity
Ownerthe state of Iceland
SubsidiariesLandsnet
Landsvirkjun Power
Orkufjarskipti
Icelandic Power Insurance
Hraunaveita
Websitewww.landsvirkjun.com

Landsvirkjun, (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈlan(t)sˌvɪr̥cʏn]) the National Power Company of Iceland, is Iceland's largest electricity generator.[1] Landsvirkjun operates 21 power plants in Iceland concentrated on five main areas of operation.[2]

History

Landsvirkjun was founded on 1 July 1965 by the state of Iceland and the city of Reykjavík.[3] The city of Reykjavík contributed to the company three power stations on the Sog River.[4] Shortly after its founding construction on[clarification needed] the Búrfell hydropower station began.[5] From 1965 until 2005 the purpose of Landsvirkjun was to produce and distribute high voltage electricity. The municipality of Akureyri acquired a 5% share in Landsvirkjun in 1983 and became the third owner.[6] Three hydropower stations on the Laxá River previously owned by the municipality of Akureyri were merged into Landsvirkjun.[7][4] The hydropower stations Búrfell, Sigalda, Hrauneyjafoss, Blanda, Sultartangi, Vatnsfell, and Fljótsdalsstöð were all built by Landsvirkjun. The geothermal power station Krafla came under Landsvirkjun's ownership in 1985.[8] Through a new electricity act in 2005 the company's Transmission Division became Landsnet, an independent limited company and a subsidiary of Landsvirkjun.[9]

Document E2015C0319(01)

Landsnet owns and operates the Icelandic transmission system and manages the country's electricity system.[10] In 2007 the state of Iceland took over the ownership shares of Akureyri and Reykjavík in Landsvirkjun, turning it into a public partnership, fully owned by the state of Iceland.[11] In December 2012, Landsvirkjun erected two wind turbines, in an area known as Hafið, within the construction area of Búrfell Power Station, in the south of Iceland. The turbines have a total of 2 MW of installed power.[12]

Power stations

Krafla Geothermal Station

Landsvirkjun has 21 power stations, of which 15 are hydropower stations, three geothermal power stations and two wind power field.

Station Year built Type Nameplate
capacity
(MW)		 Production
(GWh/year)		 Capacity factor
Laxá I[13] 1939 Hydropower 5 3 6.8%
Laxá II[14] 1953 Hydropower 9 78 98.9%
Laxá III[15] 1973 Hydropower 13.5 92 77.8%
Ljósafoss[16] 1937 Hydropower 16 105 74.1%
Írafoss[17] 1953 Hydropower 48 236 56.1%
Steingrímsstöð[18] 1959 Hydropower 27 122 51.6%
Búrfell [5] 1969 Hydropower 270 2300 97.2%
Sigalda[19] 1978 Hydropower 150 920 70.0%
Hrauneyjafoss[20] 1981 Hydropower 210 1300 70.7%
Blanda[21] 1991 Hydropower 150 990 75.3%
Sultartangi[22] 1999 Hydropower 125 1020 93.1%
Vatnsfell[23] 2001 Hydropower 90 490 62.1%
Fljótsdalur[24] 2007 Hydropower 690 4800 79.4%
Búðarháls[25] 2014 Hydropower 95 585 70.3%
Krafla[8] 1977 Geothermal 60 500 95.1%
Bjarnarflag[26] 1969 Geothermal 5 42 95.9%
Theistareykir[27] 2017 Geothermal 90 738 93.6%
Hafið[12] 2013 Windpower 1.8 6.7 42.5%
Sum by type (calculated figure) Hydropower 1898.5 13041 78.4%
Sum by type (calculated figure) Geothermal 155 1280 94.3%
Sum total (calculated figure) All types combined 2055.3 14327.7 79.6%

Subsidiaries

Landsvirkjun has five subsidiaries:

  • Landsnet (64.7% of shares are owned by Landsvirkjun) is the transmission system operator (TSO) of the Icelandic high-voltage electricity grid.
  • Landsvirkjun Power uses Landsvirkjun's knowledge to conduct consultancy projects in matters related to energy on the international market.
  • Orkufjarskipti provides telecommunication services.
  • Icelandic Power Insurance is a captive insurance company, which handles insurance and reinsurance for Landsvirkjun's power stations and, in addition, supervises insurance for construction projects.
  • Hraunaveita ehf. took on specific tasks in connection with the Kárahnjúkar Project, but now has no operations.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Landsvirkjun". www.hydropower.org. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Power stations - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Landsvirkjun.com - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  4. ^ a b "History of Reykjavík Energy". www.or.is. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Búrfell power station - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  6. ^ "On ice - International Water Power". www.waterpowermagazine.com. 20 April 2004. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  7. ^ "The Laxa River in North Iceland has 3 hydro power stations with a capacity of 28 MW". www.diamondringroad.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Krafla Power Station - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  9. ^ "EUR-Lex - E2015C0319(01) - EN - EUR-Lex". eur-lex.europa.eu. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  10. ^ "Business". www.landsnet.is. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  11. ^ "EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY DECISION of 14 December 2011 on the power contract between Landsvirkjun and Íslenska kísilfélagið ehf. (Iceland)" (PDF). European Free Trade Association Surveillance Authority: 2. 14 December 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Hafið - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  13. ^ "Laxá Power Station I - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  14. ^ "Laxá Power Station II - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  15. ^ "Laxá Power Station III - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  16. ^ "Ljósafoss Power Station - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  17. ^ "Írafossstod Power Station - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  18. ^ "Steingrímsstöd Power Station - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  19. ^ "Sigalda Power Station - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  20. ^ "Hrauneyjafoss Power Station - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  21. ^ "Blöndustöð - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  22. ^ "Sultartangi Power Station - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  23. ^ "Vatnsfell Power Station - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  24. ^ "Fljótsdalur Power Station - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  25. ^ "Búðarhálsstöð - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  26. ^ "Bjarnarflag Power Station - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  27. ^ "Theistareykir Geothermal Station - The National Power Company of Iceland". www.landsvirkjun.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.