Patreksfjörður pushes ahead with geothermal heating project

Geothermal exploration is continuing near Patreksfjörður, a town in Iceland, based on proposals from geologists at ÍSOR about where the area’s geothermal reservoir may be located, mbl.is reports.

Geothermal heat was discovered there about a year ago. One self-flowing well produces nearly 30 litres per second of water at 36°C. The water is to be connected to heat pumps, which are expected to supply 68°C water to the district heating system.

The geothermal area lies on the slopes inland from Patreksfjörður, near the road over Mikladalur and beneath Geirseyrarmúli, a mountain slope. Researchers have since carried out measurements and proposed drilling or deepening three exploratory wells to depths of up to 350 metres to pinpoint the water-bearing veins.

The aim is to locate and drill another production well as a backup for the district heating system, or to expand and deepen one of the exploratory wells so it can be used as a production well, said Elías Jónatansson, chief executive of Orkubú Vestfjarða, the Westfjords energy utility.

Infrastructure for the district heating system is also being strengthened with new pipelines. Vesturbyggð municipality is installing drinking water pipes throughout the town to create synergies between the projects.

Work is under way on a building at Aðalstræti 112 that formerly housed the Logi machine workshop. Orkubú Vestfjarða bought the building this winter, and it will house a heating plant and heat pumps near the boreholes. The new plant will replace the existing facility, which will be decommissioned.

Orkubú Vestfjarða estimates that investment in projects connected to the Patreksfjörður district heating system will total nearly 800 million Icelandic krónur. The work includes purchasing and installing heat pumps, an electric boiler and transformers, connecting the heating plant to the borehole and distribution network, buying and modifying the building, and carrying out the planned drilling.