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FAQS about Iceland solar power program

Could Iceland be the first country to harness solar power from space?

The project, a collaboration between Iceland’s sustainability initiative Transition Labs and UK-based Space Solar, is expected to power 1,500 to 3,000 homes. In a move that could revolutionize how the world harvests energy and reduce dependence on non-renewable sources, Iceland could become the first country to harness solar power from space.

Is Reykjavik Energy a suitable partner for space solar?

“Reykjavik Energy’s focus on climate technology, along with its experience in carbon storage through Carbfix and partnership with Climeworks, makes it a suitable partner for the initial phase of Space Solar’s project,” said Kjartan Örn Ólafsson, CEO of Transition Labs.

Will Iceland get more power?

The proposal for Iceland will need to deliver billions of times more power. As the constellation of power stations expands, Iceland, Canada, and northern Japan have been identified as potential locations for additional receiving stations, with Space Solar aiming to scale up to gigawatt capacity by 2036.

Why is Iceland a pioneer in Geothermal space heating?

The country is a pioneer in geothermal space heating. Hot water from the ground heats homes as well as greenhouses that produce nearly half the vegetables consumed in the country, even though it lies above the Arctic Circle. Even some of its streets are heated that way. About one quarter of Iceland's electricity is generated geothermally.

Does Iceland have geothermal energy?

There is no shortage of clean energy in Iceland, a country that sits on top of active volcanos. There is an unlimited source of geothermal heat just below ground, which Iceland is already putting to good use. People look at a geothermal plant outside Myvatn, a volcanic lake in northern Iceland. (Loic Venance/AFP/Getty Images)

Will space solar build the world's first solar power plant?

The British aerospace company Space Solar, in a collaboration with the private climate sustainability company Transition Labs, based in Iceland, have announced an agreement with Reykjavik Energy to build the world's first operational space solar power plant. The idea is not new.