In the face of climate change, innovative ideas are needed to address the world’s energy consumption and carbon emissions. Iceland is blessed with the availability of more renewable energy than what is needed at a very low cost, with 71% hydroelectricity and 29% geothermal (2). Meanwhile other parts of the world such as Europe struggle to meet climate change goals while supplying growing energy demands. But what if renewable energy could be shared between countries? Well with today’s technological advancements it can!

Submarine cables exist between many places in the world which allows for electrical energy transfer underseas from one country’s grid to another’s. For a place like Iceland with surplus energy arises the opportunity to export clean energy and help other countries to decrease their use of fossil fuels and hence carbon emissions.

Tying Iceland to Europe

 

Although this idea has been technologically possible for many years, only recently has it been considered economically viable. Studies conducted in 2010 show that a submarine cable from Iceland to continental Europe could indeed be profitable due to increasing electricity costs and higher demand for renewable energy in Europe (1). The project called IceLink that would connect a submarine cable from Eastern Iceland to Scotland is being seriously considered by the Icelandic and United Kingdom governments for the possible socio-economic benefits it would bring. Potential benefits include:

  • More security of energy supply for both countries
  • Reliable, flexible, low-carbon energy imports
  • Possible reduction of consumer bills
  • Benefits to Iceland from a larger market and opportunities to invest in more generation (3)
Further Details

 

It will take approximately 5 years to complete the research on the feasibility of the project and another 5-6 years to install the cable if the project goes through (1). The cable would be over 1000km long and would provide electricity for 1.6 million homes in Europe (1.)

From: https://askjaenergydotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/iceland-europe-hvdc-interconnector-landsvirkjun-map_askja-energy-partners.png

 

Do we risk it for the biscuit? 

 

Providing renewable energy sources to more places in the world sounds pretty great at a glance, but such a project is not void of environmental impacts. Submarine power cables can cause disturbances to the marine environment that relate not only to it’s installation but also through continued noise, magnetism, thermal radiation, and/or chemical and physical disturbances (4). However much research has gone into making cables have the least impact possible. Methods such as surveying for sensitive areas, minimizing cable movement and physical disturbances through installation, and adding sheath/protective amour all aid in addressing these environmental issues (4).

What the future will hold

To be able to make an informed decision on the costs and benefits of such a project, many studies need to take place in the next few years. When it is clear the benefits outweigh the costs and the project gets approved and installation begins, there may even be a larger demand for renewable energy in Europe. But Iceland will have to decide if they will continue to grow their energy producing sector to meet the even higher demands in the future. 

 


References Cited

  1. “Submarine Cable to Europe – The National Power Company of Iceland.” Landsvirkjun. N.p., n.d. <http://www.landsvirkjun.com/researchdevelopment/research/submarinecabletoeurope>.
  2. “Interconnector between Iceland and GB, Cost Benefit Analysis and Impact Assessment.” (n.d.): n. pag. Kivka Banki Hf and Pöyry, 8 Feb. 2016.  <https://en.kvika.is/media/pdf-enska/2016—Ice-Link-Report-Presentation.pdf>.
  3. “Smart Power.” National Infrastructure Commission Report. Government of the United Kingdom. n.d. Web. <https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/505218/IC_Energy_Report_web.pdf#page=35>.
  4. Ardelean, M., Minnebo, P. 2015. HVDC Submarine Power Cables in the World; EUR 27527 EN; doi: 10.2790/95735 <http://ses.jrc.ec.europa.eu/sites/ses.jrc.ec.europa.eu/files/publications/ld-na-27527-en-n.pdf>
  5. Arnarson, Hordur. “IceLink Interconnector.” British-Icelandic Chamber of Commerce (n.d.): n. page <http://www.easybib.com/journal-article-citation/from-pubonline>.