Iceland’s Leadership in Renewable Energy

Iceland has much to offer other countries in the increasingly important field of renewable energy science, technology, and renewable policy implementation. Over the last few decades a vast knowledge has build-up in Iceland in the utilization of geothermal (high and low-temperature) and hydropower resources and more recently in the production, storage, and demonstration of hydrogen as an energy carrier in the transportation sector. Increased emphasis on natural resource biotechnology in Iceland has also build up knowledge in the production of methane, biodiesel, ethanol/methanol and hydrogen from waste or biomass.

During the course of the 20thcentury Iceland changed from being among Europe’s poorest countries, dependent upon peat and imported coal for its energy, to a country with the world highest living standard, with practically all stationary energy and about 73% of the primary energy coming from indigenous renewable energy sources, the highest of any country. In particular, Icelandic researchers and consultants are regarded as one of the world leading energy experts in assessing the energy-capacity potential of both high- and low-temperature geothermal fields, in exploration and drilling techniques, as well as in all other aspects of geothermal energy utilization.

Icelandic researchers have coordinated or participated in a number of EU funded research projects dealing with alternative transportation fuels, and are now actively working on eliminating Iceland’s dependence on fossil fuels (currently 27% of primary energy) in the transportation sector and fishing. Therefore Iceland could well become the first nation in the world where 100% of primary energy consumption is coming from renewable energy sources.

Iceland is unique for its knowledge and development in the field of renewable energy. This provides the main rationale for establishing a specialized educational institution in the field of renewable energy in Iceland:

* High proportion of primary energy consumption is met with renewable energy sources
* Iceland’s official government policy is to continue the development of renewable energy
sources and their utilization, and in particular to emphasize the development of Iceland’s
Hydrogen Society
* Specialized knowledge base in the fields of geothermal energy utilization, hydro electric and
hydrogen as an energy carrier. Icelandic companies offer international consulting services in
the filed of geothermal energy utilization all over the world
* United Nations University Geothermal Training Program (UNU-GTP) has been operating
in Iceland since 1979. Groundbreaking work has been carried out by the UNU-GTP
creating a strong foundation of Iceland’s international partnerships in the field of
geothermal energy development.

Iceland is therefore a particularly advantageous environment to build up an institution of higher
education in the field of renewable energy.
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