Hydropower: 12.316.6 GWh

Landsvirkun’s total energy generation in 2014.

Landsvirkjun’s water reservoir levels were low at the beginning of 2014. Such low levels have not been measured for the last fifteen years or since 1998. Precipitation levels in the Þjórsá and Blanda areas in the first two months of this year were the lowest recorded since monitoring began. However, precipitation levels were satisfactory in the east and north of the country and snow levels were high in mountainous areas.

Subsequently, Landsvirkjun realised that they would have to reduce the supply of interruptible power and clients were informed of the situation in the middle of January. The reduction to the supply of interruptible power began on the 20th of February for energy intensive clients and on the 1st of March for domestic heating clients. The curtailment was partially lifted at the end of April and fully lifted by the 7th of May.

According to current power contract agreements, Landsvirkjun has the right to reduce the supply of interruptible power to its energy intensive industry and wholesale clients during a poor water year.

An unusually dry period ended at the beginning of March and the month was almost average with regard to precipitation levels, temperature and snowfall. Snowfall continued in the north and east of the country. A short-lived thawing period occurred at the end of March and there was some thawing of areas in the south and west of the country (particularly below 400-600 m.a.s.l).

Hydropower accounts for approximately 96% of Landsvirkjun’s generation and geothermal energy accounts for just 4%.

Weather conditions were average up until the spring period; both temperature and precipitation levels. Newly fallen snow in the south and west of the country thawed at a slow and steady rate until the beginning of April. Water levels in the reservoirs were closely monitored and predictions on lowest potential levels and subsequent energy reductions were updated on a daily basis. Þórisvatn was almost empty at the beginning of April.

Landsvirkjun generated 12.692 GWh of electrical energy for the Landsnet transmission grid in 2014, a decrease of 0.2% when compared with figures for 2013.

A milder climate took over at the end of May and snow began to melt in the eastern parts. Glacial ablation began at the end of June/beginning of July and there were high precipitation levels in the south and west of the country. The Hálslón Reservoir reached spillover at the end of August and the Blanda Reservoir followed suit at the end of September. Only 24 cm of water was needed to fill the Þórisvatn Reservoir in the middle of October.

Investments in operational power stations

There were 102 investment and refurbishment projects in 2014. A new unit transformer was purchased for the Búrfell Hydropower Station. A small-scale hydropower station began operations by Hágöngulón Reservoir in the mid- September and will provide the gate equipment and emergency services transmitters at Skrokkalda transmitter station with electricity, replacing the diesel engine used in previous years. The original control system was renewed at the Blanda Hydropower Station. The renewal took place during full operations and down time was minimal. The project was successful and was completed by mid-November. The gas removal system for turbine two at the Krafla Geothermal Power Station was partially replaced, increasing the power from the generator by um 1.5 MW or equal to 2.5 GWh of production, annually.

Asset management of power stations

The objective of asset management is to optimise the management of assets and to ensure that they fulfil their designated role and requirements. However, effective maintenance cannot prevent the need for the renewal and refurbishment of power stations, within the estimated lifetime.

An important milestone was reached this year with the implementation of working procedures for asset management in accordance with ISO 55001, using software to support the procedures. The next phase will include improvements to working procedures pertaining to condition analyses of structures and equipment in order to facilitate a long-term investment analysis.

A small-scale power station at the Hágöngur Reservoir

A 20 KW hydropower station was constructed by the Hágöngur Reservoir to supply the daily electricity needs of Hágöngur and the Skrokkalda transmitter station. The Skrokkalda transmitter and telecommunication station was set up at the turn of the last century and small diesel engines have supplied the required electricity since then.

The diesel engines at Skrokkalda are owned by the emergency services which have now discontinued their use but the emergency services and Landsvirkjun collaborated with regard to the small-scale hydropower station. Energy requirements have increased with time as a result of increased requirements pertaining to monitoring and supervision. The new hydropower station supports Landsvirkjun’s policy on the environment by decreasing pollution and the likelihood of pollution incidents as a result of oil transport across sensitive land terrain.