Iceland, the world’s geologically youngest country, has long been noted for its unique landscape and resources. In recent years, Iceland has come to be known among one of the world’s most sustainably thriving countries, and its capital, Reykjavik, retains the highest net use of renewable energy in the world. Due to its geographical positioning, Iceland sits on a hotbed of geothermal activity from the Earth’s core (Geothermal Exhibition). Through recent years of innovation and technological advances, Iceland has learned to successfully harness and convert the geothermal activity into a renewable energy source by which it powers the majority of its country. While Iceland serves to be a model of renewable energy, many question what brought the formerly poorest European Union country to join the sustainable drive and form a thriving economy and infrastructure that leaves it in its successful midst today. Through a case study of the institution of renewable energy as well as the progression of ecotourism in Reykjavik, Iceland, this project will investigate the primary research questions: In what way was Iceland’s shift to renewable energy as well as its current transition into the ecotourism industry truly exceptional and in what ways may other developed countries follow this model? Through analysis of the multiple sources of data, this study will explore how Reykjavik, Iceland may be a model for other nations who are interested in moving away from fossil fuel use as well as look into the world of eco-tourism and sustainable practices on a wide-scale.

1. JacquelineZurmuhlen
ICELAND:ACASE
STUDY ON
SUSTAINABILITY
A Closer Look into the
Geothermal Industry of Iceland

2. WOODGROVE
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LAND OF FIREAND
ICE
A brief look into
Iceland’s history
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3. WOODGROVE
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ORIGINS
Iceland is among one of the youngest countries
in the world geologically. It is estimated that the
island first appeared over 70 million years ago
(Thompson, 2010). In its youth, Iceland boasts volcanic
activity throughout the island.
A Brief History
• The Papar
• Tragedy of the Commons
• Black Sand Beaches
• Hotbed of Volcanic Activity
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4. WOODGROVE
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JOURNEY TO THE
CENTER OF THE
EARTH
Fun fact: Jules Verne’s novel did in
fact feature the entrance to the Earth’s
center as being none other than West
Iceland’s Snæfellsjökull.
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WHAT LIES BENEATH
Among one of the earliest uses of Iceland’s geothermal
energy was in the harnessing of hot springs, located
around the country, which were used for cooking and
bathing (Mims, 2008).
• Geothermal Energy (Early Ages)
• Discovery of Hydropower
• Sustainable, Low-Cost Heating
• Conducting Electricity
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6. WOODGROVE
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ACTIVE
VOLCANOES
IN ICELAND
Created by: Jacqueline Zurmuhlen & Michael Chenore
Source: ArcGIS Online- Federal_User_Community
https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=8ee703c4b241413797d5a405fb8e3722

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GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
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The Process
• How It Works
• Growing Industry
• Svartsengi Power Plant
• Holocene Lava Beds
National Energy Authority of Iceland, Orkustofnun, nea.is/geothermal/master-plan/.
Geothermal Resources Council, https://geothermal.org

8. WOODGROVE
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ACTIVE LAVA
FLOWS OF
ICELAND
Created by: Jacqueline Zurmuhlen & Michael Chenore
Source: ArcGIS Online- Federal_User_Community
https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=8ee703c4b241413797d5a405fb8e3722

9. WOODGROVE
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SUSTAINABLE
PRODUCTION
What was once a fishing dominated market, the
introduction of energy into the global market boosted
Iceland’s economy as foreign investors suddenly acquired
an interest in the small country’s energy plan (Best Countries for
Business- Iceland, n.d.).
• Energy Production Statistics
• Carbon Savings
• Recovery from the Market Crash of 2008
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National Energy Authority of Iceland, Orkustofnun, nea.is/geothermal/master-plan/.

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GEOTHERMAL
ENERGY IN THE
UNITED STATES
The U.S. still holds some seismically
active regions that house the potential
for geothermal energy expansion.
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GEOTHERMAL
ACTIVITYIN THE
U.S.
Created by: Jacqueline Zurmuhlen
Source: ArcGIS Online- HouseAdmin_Esri
http://www.arcgis.com/home/search.html?q=geothermal%20energy&t=content&start=1&sortOrder=desc&sortField=relevance

12. WOODGROVE
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GEOTHERMAL ENERGY IN
THE U.S.
Iceland’s developments have become a forefront example of
what investing in geothermal energy can look like.
• California Geothermal Regions
• Dry Steam vs. Binary Cycle
• Low Temperature Geothermal
Resources
• Lack of Investment
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California Energy Commission, http://www.energy.ca.gov/maps/renewable/geothermal_areas.html

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“ÞETTA REDDAST”
“It’ll all work out okay”
• Technology (GIS, Remote Sensing, Lidar,etc.)
• Cut Carbon Emissions
• Adopt sustainable policies and practice
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14. THANK YOU

15. SOURCES
• “California Geothermal Energy Statistics and Data.” California Energy Commission, State of California, www.energy.ca.gov/geothermal/background.html
• “Geothermal.” National Energy Authority of Iceland, Orkustofnun, nea.is/geothermal/master-plan/.
• “Geothermal Energy in California.” California Energy Commission, State of California, www.energy.ca.gov/geothermal/background.html
• Zurmuhlen, Jacqueline. Iceland: A Case Study on Sustainability. Vol. 1, University of Northern Colorado, 2017.
• “Orkustofnun Data Repository OS-2018-T009-01.” National Energy Authority of Iceland, orkustofnun.is/gogn/Talnaefni/OS-2018-T009-01.pdf.
• “The Hydro and Geothermal History.” Askja Energy, Askja Energy Partners, 26 Mar. 2017, askjaenergy.com/iceland-renewable-energy-sources/hydro-and-geothermal-history/.
• “Tourism Amounted to 8.4% of GDP in 2016.” Statistics Iceland, 4 Oct. 2017, www.statice.is/publications/news-archive/tourism/tourism-contribution-to-gdp-in-2016/.
• “Types of Geothermal Power Plants.” California Energy Commission, State of California, www.energy.ca.gov/geothermal/background.html
• National Energy Authority of Iceland, Orkustofnun, nea.is/geothermal/master-plan/.
• Geothermal Resources Council, https://geothermal.org
• California Energy Commission, http://www.energy.ca.gov/maps/renewable/geothermal_areas.html
• Photography by Jacqueline Zurmuhlen