The year 2019 was an eventful and educational year in the diverse operations of Reykjavik Energy and its subsidiaries. Here are some key events and links to news in Icelandic.
The year 2019 was an eventful and educational year in the diverse operations of Reykjavik Energy and its subsidiaries. Here are some key events and links to news in Icelandic.
Veitur Utilities mobilise according to contingency plans because of extended freezing temperatures. Delivery of hot water reaches amounts not seen before, an average of 16,000 metric tons per hour for a 24 hour period. Contingency operations are maintained until February 2nd.
Reykjavik Energy issues its first green bonds to finance a variety of green projects planned by OR and subsidiaries Veitur Utilities and ON Power. The issuance, having received the labelling of "Dark Green" are later registered on the Nasdaq Iceland Sustainable Bond market.
ON Power's Board of Directors appoints Ms. Berglind Rán Ólafsdóttir as the company's CEO following a public recruitment process. Berglind has been employed at ON since 2017.
OR's subsidiary, Reykjavík Fibre Network, makes claims against the communications incumbent Síminn for the amount of ISK 1.3 billion because of Síminn's breach of Iceland's media law.
At Reykjavik Energy's open annual meeting, the Mayor of Reykjavík signs an agreement with the CEOs of Reykjavík Energy and Veitur Utilities for a combined effort to improve infrastructure in the city for EV owners. Corresponding agreements with the municipalities of Akranes and Gardabaer are made later in 2019.
The President of Iceland officially opens the latest multi-energy station in Iceland where ON Power provides fast-charging for electric vehicles and hydrogen for hydrogen cars.
Women in Energy, an association of women working at energy and utility companies in Iceland, publish a report on influence of women within the respective companies. It turns out this is most at within the Reykjavík Energy-Group.
30 thousand parrs are released into two ponds by Andakílsá River as a part of mitigating actions for the accidental release of sediment from ON Power's reservoir into the river in 2017.
A proposal named "The energy of the river bakes the cake" wins an OR-held competition for the concept of a planned history and technology centre in OR's buildings in the Elliðaárdalur Valley. The competition was held in cooperation with Iceland Design Centre.
On the initiative of the Icelandic government, a declaration of intent on capture and sequestration of carbon emissions from heavy industries in Iceland using the CarbFix-method is signed by three ministers and representatives of Reykjavík Energy and the heavy industries in Iceland.
A research by ON Power on the carbon footprint of EVs in Iceland is published. Total life-time footprint of an EV driven 220,000 km. in Iceland is but one-fifth of the footprint of a corresponding vehicle powered by fossil fuels.
Reykjavík Energy becomes the first Icelandic company to have its green bonds listed on the Sustainable Bonds market.
Veitur Utilities' Board of Directors appoints Gestur Petursson as the company's CEO following a public advertisement for applications. Gestur was previously employed as CEO of arrives at Veitur from the position of CEO at Elkem Iceland.
On the occasion of The Icelandic Republic's Motorcycle Association - The Snails' - 35th anniversary, it combines with ON Power to ride the ring-road of Iceland on electric motorbikes.
Following a decision by the ministry for municipal affairs, Veitur Utilities recalculate water tariffs for the year 2016. The amended tariffs extend to three of the municipalities Veitur serves.
Stefan Löfven, Sweden's prime minister, visits ON Power's Hellisheiði Geothermal Power Plant to get insight into geothermal utilization in Iceland. Iceland's PM, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, receives her Swedish counterpart along with Reykjavík Energy's Chairwoman, Brynhildur Davíðsdóttir, and CEO, Bjarni Bjarnason.
Reykjavík Energy's Chairwoman, Brynhildur Davíðsdóttir, and CEO Bjarni Bjarnason receive Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel at ON Power's Hellisheiði Geothermal Power Plant. There, talks take place with the leader on geothermal utilization and carbon mineralization at the facilities.
The first homes in Árborg Municipality get fibre connections from Reykjavík Fibre Network in accordance with an agreement of intent signed in 2018.
Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson, Iceland's minister for the environment, opens a new web, matarsporið at Reykjavík Energy headquarters. Matarsporið, developed by Efla Consultants in collaboration with OR, is a carbon-footprint calculator for canteens and restaurants.
Algaennovation Iceland formally opens its algae plant in ON Power's Geothermal Park by the Hellisheiði Power Plant with Iceland's minster for finance, Bjarni Benediktsson, in attendance. The plant utilizes various streams associated with the geothermal power production.
Suspicious water-samples are found deriving from the Grábrók water supply in West-Iceland. Consequently, E.coli bacteria is detected and customers are advised to boil all water for consumption. The supply serves the communities of Borgarnes, Bifröst, and Varmaland besides several summer houses in the area. These recommendations are in place until October 16th.
Reykjavík Fibre Network issues a pledge to customers that have experiences instances of illegal disconnection of their fibre thread by a competitor.
Reykjavík Energy and Efla Consultants issue a web-site allowing the general public to calculate their respective carbon footprint. The web also includes various recommendations of how to reduce it.
ON Power reveals that the company has been awarded public grants spurting the company's plans to install 40 new charging points for EVs, among them 17 super-chargers of 150 MW.
Reykjavík Energy's Board of Directors updates its climate goals decides that the group shall be carbon neutral by year 2030. Orkuveita Reykjavíkur einsetur sér að verða kolefnishlutlaus árið 2030. Þetta er metnaðarfyllra markmið en fyrirtækið hafði áður sett sér. Aukin förgun og hagnýting koltvíoxíðs frá jarðgufuvirkjunum Orku náttúrunnar mun vega þyngst í markmiðið náist.
ON Power announces the company will multiply the amount of CO2 mineralized in the Hengill geothermal area. There, ON Power operates two geothermal power plants and the greenhouse gas comes along with the geothermal fluid extracted from the area. Instead of emitting it, the CarbFix method has been employed to mineralize the CO2 on-site. These efforts are now to be enhanced and ON Power carbon-neutralized by 2030.
Veitur Utilities install UV lamps at Heiðmörk water reserves to improve the security of healthy water supply from the area. The shallowest boreholes there are most prone to infection of bacteria which are disabled by the UV light.
During a forceful storm in Iceland, Reykjavík Fibre Network see a record of data-flow through its fibres. As people seem to keep indoors, fetching information and leisure on the internet, the stream of data through the system increases by 25% and has never been heavier.
As gale-force winds and icing severely disrupt electric grids in northern Iceland, Veitur Utilities send specialized staff to the aid of the power companies operating there. Veitur's own grid is unaffected by the storm but its linemen and -women are working in the north for a week.
Reykjavík Fibre Network's cables now reach every home in the urban part of all the municipalities of the Capital Area; Reykjavík, Kópavogur, Hafnarfjörður, Seltjarnarnes, Garðabær, Hafnarfjörður, and Mosfellsbær. The mayors of the municipalities celebrate this important milestone.
Reykjavík Energy's Board of Directors resolves to tender for the reconstruction of the company's headquarters at Bæjarháls in Reykjavík. The office building was found to be partially damaged by moisture.
A hot-water main in Reykjavík brakes and most of the western part of the city is without heating. Reparations go smoothly and the outage lasts for 10 hours.
A Reykjavík Energy Owners' meeting ratifies the BoD's decision to establish a special fully-owned subsidiary to enhance the penetration of the CarbFix-method for mineralization of CO2. Dr. Edda Sif Pind Aradóttir, who has been project manager for CarbFix, is the CEO of the newly established public limited company.
