Akureyrarbær to utilize excess heat from TDK’s power plant for district heating in Iceland

Akureyrarbær is set to receive hot water from TDK’s power plant in Krossanes, which will be channeled into Akureyri’s district heating system. This agreement with Norðurorka aims to make use of excess heat that would otherwise be wasted in industrial processes.

Hot water consumption in Akureyri has risen significantly over recent years, surpassing previous forecasts. Residents are now using double the amount of hot water compared to the turn of the millennium. Eyþór Björnsson, CEO of Norðurorka, remarked that it is a valuable improvement to harness waste heat from TDK’s power plant.

A recent contract has been signed to utilize this waste heat. Björnsson noted that this could potentially add about 90 gigawatt-hours of heat annually to the heating network, which currently consumes approximately 622 gigawatt-hours. The demand for hot water has been increasing by around 25 gigawatt-hours each year, indicating that this waste heat should meet the growing demand for the next three to four years.

Preparations are underway to install the necessary infrastructure, with hopes that the flow of hot water will begin by October. Despite this progress, Norðurorka must continue to seek additional hot water sources, especially during the coldest days when demand hits maximum capacity. Björnsson expressed optimism about upcoming drilling plans in Ytri-Haga, near Hauganes, scheduled for next year, which could yield a productive new system.