New lava cooling system installed at Svartsengi power plant on Reykjanes Peninsula

A new lava cooling system is being installed above Svartsengi to protect the power plant from potential lava flows. Authorities anticipate the possibility of volcanic eruptions occurring imminently on the Reykjanes Peninsula.

Water pipelines are being constructed towards the protective walls closest to the Sundhnúkur craters, enabling cooling of lava in the event of an eruption. The major objective is to safeguard the Svartsengi power station, as volcanic activity could start at any moment.

“We have been laying ten-inch hoses for lava cooling along the protective barriers, approximately four kilometers in length, connecting them to four large pumps with a capacity of 13,000 liters each,” explained Helgi Hjörleifsson, the assistant shift supervisor and lava cooling manager. These hoses and pumps are part of a new cooling system acquired for nearly half a billion Icelandic kronor, which could also be used to combat wildfires.

The robust hoses being laid resemble garden hoses but are designed for heavy-duty use. Additionally, specialized equipment, including roll packaging machines and tractors, has been utilized to transport them.

The water supply comes from Svartsengi and the Blue Lagoon, coursing under the Grindavíkurveg road and over Sýlingarfell towards the protective barriers. From there, water will be injected onto the lava to prevent it from breaching the defenses. The terrain slopes downward toward Svartsengi from the protective barriers, presenting a significant challenge in the efforts to safeguard the facility.

Earlier this summer, a trial of lava cooling was conducted when lava began to flow down the protective barriers near Sýlingarfell, demonstrating that such cooling measures could be effective. However, during that trial, the firefighting units lacked the robust equipment available now.