Something very exciting is happening in the moss-covered lava plateau of Hellisheidi in the South-West of Iceland. A visionary project combining nature, cutting-edge technology and engineering is creating an incredible sustainable vision of the future.
The Geothermal Park
Due to its volcanic activity, Iceland has been using geothermal energy for washing and bathing since the Viking Age. Since the 1970’s it has been used to heat houses and more recently to produce electricity. Today geothermal energy heats around 90 percent of houses in Iceland and produces around 30 percent of all electricity in the country. ON Power, Iceland‘s largest geothermal company, is promoting sustainable innovation and circular resource use within its Geothermal Park – located in Hellisheidi, home to the largest geothermal power plant in Europe.
I’ve been visiting Iceland for over 20 years, travelling across the country and working on various projects there. I’m constantly inspired by the nature, the innovation and the creativity of Icelanders so when I learned there was a a grand-scale project combining all these elements I was keen to visit and see for myself what was happening. The Director of the Geothermal Park, Helga Kristín Jóhannsdóttir, kindly gave me an extensive tour and showed me how the various business within the park connect and support each other.
Companies situated in the park include Climeworks, set to become the world’s largest carbon capture plant this year, Carbfix, whose innovative technology injects carbon dioxide into the ground and within a two year period turns it into stone, and VAXA technologies, a leader in Omega-3 cultivation, producing protein-rich microalgae for sustainable nutrition. These companies and others within the park share a strong commitment to a sustainable and clean future. Their solutions are not only innovative but also realistic and scalable, making the park an ideal model for replication elsewhere in the world. As I approach Hellisheidi, the whole atmosphere begins to change and while it’s less than half an hour drive from Reykjavik city centre, it feels like a different country. The wind and foggy sky with a hazy mist in the air makes my time there all the more mysterious.
The Geothermal Exhibition
Those interested in green energy can visit the Geothermal Exhibition at Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Plant.
Housed in a uniquely designed building, the exhibition features a well- curated selection of installations and interactive displays, brought to life by enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides. This is a really fun and informative tour. You really feel engaged the whole time, and you can even observe the working plant to appreciate the operations first hand. The scale and ingenuity of the engineering on show is incredible.
The Nordic House
Located a few minutes walk from the central Reykjavík Tjörnin pond is The Nordic House (Norræna Húsið) designed by renowned Finnish modernist architect Alvar Aalto.
This cultural institution offers an eclectic mix of art exhibitions, concerts and photography shows. The Nordic house has one of the most impressive views overlooking a beautiful wild marsh nature reserve surrounding the building, home to various
Sky Lagoon
Continuing the theme of beautiful architecture set amongst nature is the recently constructed Sky Lagoon which gives a relaxing and design- focused experience inspired by traditional Icelandic turf houses. You can bathe in the open-air lagoon viewing endless sea and sky, or relax in the signature wellness treatment rooms.
Perlan
For those interested to learn about Iceland’s unique nature I recommend Perlan, the multifaceted exhibition centre housed in a futuristic cylindrical building just outside the centre of Reykjavík.
Perlan (The Pearl) has a science museum focused on Icelandic nature and you can explore an accurately recreated ice-cave, watch stunning planetarium shows charting the northern lights and explore interactive displays about lava, glaciers and all things Icelandic nature. On the top floor you can visit a revolving circular restaurant and café that offers beautiful 360° panoramic views over Reykjavík.
Fridheimar
The Fridheimar tomato farm and greenhouses offer visitors a unique experience to sample their home grown tomatoes in an onsite restaurant alongside their greenhouse – possibly the freshest produce you could expect to enjoy. However the real point of interest is the fact that these tomatoes (which many visitors claim are the best they’ve tasted) are grown in a climate not usually associated with such farming – and done in a way quite unique to Iceland.
Fridheimar uses electricity from a hydro powered dam, and hot water from a local hot spring to heat the greenhouses- a process that would otherwise be a huge consumption of electricity, as well as be prohibitively expensive to run. Their innovative use of the technology means that they have affordable, clean and abundant energy and as a result are able supply Iceland with around 18% of all tomatoes.
Harpa
When it comes to the most ambitious architecture and design it doesn’t get much more iconic than the Harpa concert hall in Reykjavik.
This immense space was created by Henning Larsson Architects in co- operation with Danish-Icelandic artist Olfaur Eliassson.It is recognised as one of the finest concert halls in the world and to fully appreciate Harpa it’s highly recommended to attend a concert. However visitors with less time can enjoy lunch or dinner at the restaurant or cafe, and immerse themselves in the architecture whilst enjoying views of the sea and the harbour. There are guided tours of the space as well as an interactive audiovisual nature installation at the venue to be enjoyed. Walking around Harpa is like exploring inside a giant kaleidoscope and is a must-see for design lovers.
These recommendations are just a handful of options that offer nature, science and design with a focus on innovation and sustainability in Iceland. This emphasis on sustainability combined with beautiful design and architecture ensures that Iceland continues to be a place that inspires and surprises in equal measure.
My thanks to
Easyjet for travel to Iceland and Hilton Reykjavik Nordica where I stayed during the trip, and VOX where I ate each day. Also to Visit Reykjavik for their assistance in planning the trip, with their Reykjavik City Card that allowed travel and access to attractions across Reykjavik. My appreciation to Activity Iceland / Icelandia for helping with custom travel and also advice on trip planning.
