Faroese agency to study geothermal impact at new test site

The Faroese energy agency Jarðfeingi has begun its first investigation into the effects of geothermal drilling at a new test site in Debesartrøð, Tórshavn, the national broadcaster KVF reports.

Geothermal energy is widely used for heating in the Faroe Islands, but knowledge of its environmental impact remains limited, according to Jana Ólavsdóttir, project manager at Jarðfeingi.

“We have a lot of geothermal holes, and we need to understand how geothermal activity affects the subsurface. Once you start drilling, there’s no turning back,” Ólavsdóttir said.

Early indications suggest groundwater may have a positive effect on geothermal energy. Water flowing from a mountain above the site can seep into a geothermal hole, potentially introducing new energy and making geothermal a more efficient energy source than previously thought. The study aims to clarify this.

Preliminary results from the project are expected this autumn.