The 2009 International Hydropower Association (IHA) World Congress is currently taking place at Hotel Hilton Nordica in Reykjavík. Leaders of international institutions from related fields will speak during the congress, which began on Wednesday.
The Kárahnjúkar dam in Iceland’s eastern highlands in 2006. Photo by Páll Stefánsson.
In her opening address, Iceland’s Minister of Energy, Industry and Tourism Katrín Júlíusdóttir provided an overview of energy production in Iceland.
The minister explained that only 20 percent of Iceland’s energy needs are met by imported fuels and said Iceland was focusing on transitioning entirely to hydropower and geothermal power.
Today, the topic of the world congress is sustainability and hydropower.
IHA cooperates with United Nations institutions, nature protection associations, such as WWF, and other parties to estimate locations viable for harnessing hydropower and the quality of the operations of power plants.
During the world congress, hydropower harnessing possibilities in Iceland will be discussed.
Click here to read the program and here to read more about the congress.
