Landsvirkjun
National Power Company of Iceland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Landsvirkjun, (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈlan(t)sˌvɪr̥cʏn]) the National Power Company of Iceland, is Iceland's largest electricity generator.[1] Landsvirkjun operates 21 power plants in Iceland concentrated across five main operational areas.[2]
 | |
| Company type | public partnership |
|---|---|
| Industry | energy |
| Founded | 1 July 1965 |
| Founder | city of Reykjavík the state of Iceland |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | Jón Björn Hákonarson, chairman Hörður Arnarson, CEO |
| Products | electricity |
| Owner | the state of Iceland |
| Subsidiaries | Landsnet Landsvirkjun Power Orkufjarskipti Icelandic Power Insurance Hraunaveita |
| Website | www |
History
Landsvirkjun was founded on 1 July 1965 by the state of Iceland and the city of Reykjavík.[3] The city of Reykjavík contributed to the company three power stations on the Sog River.[4] Shortly after its founding, construction on[clarification needed] the Búrfell hydropower station began.[5] From 1965 until 2005 the purpose of Landsvirkjun was to produce and distribute high-voltage electricity.
The municipality of Akureyri acquired a 5% share in Landsvirkjun in 1983 and became the third owner.[6] Three hydropower stations on the Laxá River previously owned by the municipality of Akureyri were merged into Landsvirkjun.[7][4]
The hydropower stations Búrfell, Sigalda, Hrauneyjafoss, Blanda, Sultartangi, Vatnsfell, and Fljótsdalsstöð were all built by Landsvirkjun. The geothermal power station Krafla came under Landsvirkjun's ownership in 1985.[8]
Through a new electricity act in 2005, the company's Transmission Division became Landsnet, an independent limited company and a subsidiary of Landsvirkjun.[9] Landsnet owns and operates the Icelandic transmission system and manages the country's electricity system.[10]
In 2007 the state of Iceland took over the ownership shares of Akureyri and Reykjavík in Landsvirkjun, turning it into a public partnership, fully owned by the state of Iceland.[11] In December 2012, Landsvirkjun erected two wind turbines, in an area known as Hafið, within the construction area of Búrfell Power Station, in the south of Iceland. The turbines have a total of 2 MW of installed power.[12]
Power stations
Landsvirkjun has 21 power stations, of which 15 are hydropower stations, three geothermal power stations and two wind power field.
| Station | Year built | Type | Nameplate capacity (MW) | Production (GWh/year) | Capacity factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laxá I[13] | 1939 | Hydropower | 5 | 3 | 6.8% |
| Laxá II[14] | 1953 | Hydropower | 9 | 78 | 98.9% |
| Laxá III[15] | 1973 | Hydropower | 13.5 | 92 | 77.8% |
| Ljósafoss[16] | 1937 | Hydropower | 16 | 105 | 74.1% |
| Írafoss[17] | 1953 | Hydropower | 48 | 236 | 56.1% |
| Steingrímsstöð[18] | 1959 | Hydropower | 27 | 122 | 51.6% |
| Búrfell [5] | 1969 | Hydropower | 270 | 2300 | 97.2% |
| Sigalda[19] | 1978 | Hydropower | 150 | 920 | 70.0% |
| Hrauneyjafoss[20] | 1981 | Hydropower | 210 | 1300 | 70.7% |
| Blanda[21] | 1991 | Hydropower | 150 | 990 | 75.3% |
| Sultartangi[22] | 1999 | Hydropower | 125 | 1020 | 93.1% |
| Vatnsfell[23] | 2001 | Hydropower | 90 | 490 | 62.1% |
| Fljótsdalur[24] | 2007 | Hydropower | 690 | 4800 | 79.4% |
| Búðarháls[25] | 2014 | Hydropower | 95 | 585 | 70.3% |
| Krafla[8] | 1977 | Geothermal | 60 | 500 | 95.1% |
| Bjarnarflag[26] | 1969 | Geothermal | 5 | 42 | 95.9% |
| Theistareykir[27] | 2017 | Geothermal | 90 | 738 | 93.6% |
| Hafið[12] | 2013 | Windpower | 1.8 | 6.7 | 42.5% |
| Sum by type (calculated figure) | Hydropower | 1898.5 | 13041 | 78.4% | |
| Sum by type (calculated figure) | Geothermal | 155 | 1280 | 94.3% | |
| Sum total (calculated figure) | All types combined | 2055.3 | 14327.7 | 79.6% | |
Subsidiaries
Landsvirkjun has five subsidiaries:
- Landsnet (64.7% of shares are owned by Landsvirkjun) is the transmission system operator (TSO) of the Icelandic high-voltage electricity grid.
- Landsvirkjun Power uses Landsvirkjun's knowledge to conduct consultancy projects in matters related to energy on the international market.
- Orkufjarskipti provides telecommunication services.
- Icelandic Power Insurance is a captive insurance company, which handles insurance and reinsurance for Landsvirkjun's power stations and, in addition, supervises insurance for construction projects.
- Hraunaveita ehf. took on specific tasks in connection with the Kárahnjúkar Project, but now has no operations.