The National Energy Authority has granted the company Sjávarorka a six-year research permit for a wave power plant in Hvammsfjördur fjord, the innermost part of Breidafjördur fjord in west Iceland.
Breidafjördur. Aerial view of Stykkishólmur. Photo by Páll Stefánsson.
In September it was reported that Japanese industrial giant Mitsubishi was looking into options of harnessing wave energy in the West Fjords in collaboration with the West Fjords Business Energy.
Minister of Industry Katrín Júlíusdóttir told Fréttabladid that she is keen on obtaining an overview of energy harnessing options in Iceland and making long-term plans for the distribution of energy instead of only evaluating one project at a time.
“We are working on that now, both to get an overview of what the energy will be used for and what we want to use it for long-term,” the minister said. She added that it is important to have options ready to attract green industries.
A referendum on the enlargement of the smelter in Straumsvík is coming up in Hafnarfjördur and Júlíusdóttir said it is uncertain where the energy for increased aluminum production in Straumsvík will come from.
No permits in relation to the enlargement have been issued, the minister said.
Click here to read more about the potential enlargement of the smelter in Straumsvík.
