Committee backs permit for 3-kilometre geothermal well
Saturday 17th October 2026 on 01:45 in
Iceland
A regional planning committee has recommended that energy utility Orkuveitan receive a permit to drill an exploratory geothermal well up to three kilometres deep at Nesjavellir, mbl.is reports.
The well would be directionally drilled for research purposes. Orkuveitan has applied for permission to use one of two possible locations within the production area of the Nesjavellir geothermal power station; drilling would take place at only one. The committee raised no objections and recommended that Grímsnes and Grafningur municipality approve the permit.
One of the proposed locations was updated following further geological and technical studies. Drilling is expected to begin before the end of the year.
The Iceland Deep Drilling Project aims to investigate whether “superhot” geothermal areas deeper than conventional geothermal wells can reach could be used. The project received nearly 310 million Icelandic krónur from the Energy Fund earlier this year.