The usage of hot water in the capital region reached 14,800 cubic meters per hour on Wednesday, which is the highest usage since the cold spell at the end of January-early February 2008 when the production reached 15,200 cubic meters per hour.
Geothermal energy. Photo by Páll Stefánsson.
Eiríkur Hjálmarsson, information officer at Reykjavík Energy (OR), told Morgunbladid that the record will probably not be broken this year as bitter frost and fierce winds are not predicted in the coming days.
A new heating utility on Hellisheidi heath opened on December 4 at the same time as the 80th anniversary of heating in Reykjavík was commemorated.
In addition to Hellisheidi, OR’s hot water production takes place at Nesjavellir, Reykjadalur and Reykjahlíd in Mosfellsbaer and at the Laugarnes area and Ellidaárdalur in Reykjavík.
The new heating utility is comprised of a heating station in the power plant and a nearly 20-kilometer long pipe from the plant to the hot water tanks on the Reynisvatnsheidi heath.
The production level is currently set at 800 cubic meters per hour but its production capacity is much higher.
