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Delays in backup power station installation raise concerns in Mýrdalshrepp, Iceland

Tuesday 10th 2024 on 13:58 in  
Iceland

Significant delays in the installation of a backup power station in the Mýrdalshrepp municipality have raised concerns among local officials. The region faced an electricity outage over the weekend, which caught the attention of the municipal mayor, Einar Freyr Elínarson. He criticized the absence of backup power when a cable buried under the river Skógá snapped, leading to the blackout.

The incident is reminiscent of a similar power cut in September, which also occurred when a cable was damaged by river erosion. Elínarson expressed surprise that no backup power was available during the latest outage, highlighting the lack of interconnected power lines in the area that could provide electricity from elsewhere.

While Rarik, the power company, moved a new backup power station to Vík during the summer, the installation has not yet been completed. Challenges such as delays in material delivery and tricky logistics have been problematic. Although the backup generator is operational, it still requires upgrades for the control systems.

Rarik’s division head acknowledged that a smaller, operational backup generator is present in Vík but serves only a limited portion of the area. Elínarson’s frustration is palpable, as Mýrdalshrepp is a significant electricity consumer, with the demand heightened due to numerous facilities catering to tourists, including kitchens and laundry services, all reliant on electricity. The mayor underscored that power outages lead to uncomfortable conditions across the municipality, necessitating immediate attention to improve the local energy infrastructure.

Source 
(via ruv.is)