Björn Arnar Hauksson, Head of Data and Analysis at Orkustofnun, discussed the importance of data collection and analysis to support decision-making in energy matters.

Björn Arnar Hauksson - Major Steps Taken to Make Informed Decisions

Björn Arnar Hauksson, Head of Data and Analysis at Orkustofnun, discussed the importance of data collection and analysis to support decision-making in energy matters. At Orkustofnun’s annual meeting, he presented eight major improvement projects that Orkustofnun has undertaken recently. These projects form the foundation for the institution to better support the government's goals regarding energy security, energy transitions, and equal access to energy across the country.

Björn emphasized the importance of improving data accessibility to ensure better decision-making in energy production, security, and transitions. He pointed out that the lack of sufficient and timely information could lead to energy shortages, highlighting the need for regular and easily understandable data publication.

Energy Forecast and Wind Power Björn introduced Orkustofnuns’s latest analysis on the feasibility of electricity production and e-fuels. He emphasized that Iceland is presented with significant opportunities in developing cost-efficient wind farms that could contribute to e-fuel production. He presented scenarios comparing the efficiency of wind energy, hydropower, and geothermal energy, underscoring the importance of building new power plants to meet the increasing demand for electricity.

He also mentioned the expected wholesale electricity price by 2030, which is estimated to range between 7.5 and 10 ISK/kWh, largely dependent on water reservoir levels. Björn pointed out that Orkustofnun’s electricity price forecast, published last spring, was based on a supply analysis that would help predict future electricity price developments.

Data Publication and New Technology Björn also presented plans for significantly improved data publication in the coming year. Orkustofnun's new website now receives around 250,000 page views per year and offers various data, such as geothermal mapping, information on oil usage, and electricity security status. He mentioned that while data accessibility has greatly improved, there are still significant opportunities to enhance the dissemination of information and advice.

Electricity indicators are published quarterly, providing detailed information on electricity production, consumption, and security. Björn noted that the status of electricity security for priority consumers had significantly improved from last year, but that restrictions are anticipated this winter and in the coming year for interruptible consumers.

Vision and Next Steps Orkustofnun's vision involves a transformation of databases for electricity and geothermal energy. Björn emphasized that cooperation with domestic entities such as energy companies, Netorka, and Statistics Iceland will be crucial to publishing data within seven days, instead of the 16-month delay that has been typical in the past.

Additionally, Orkustofnun's new institution will place even greater emphasis on communicating information through user-friendly maps and visuals, benefiting both the government and the public in making informed decisions. This will also strengthen information regarding geothermal energy, particularly concerning potential supply, production costs, and demand.

Challenges and Opportunities Björn recognized that the launch of a new energy institution will pose short-term challenges, particularly due to changes in information technology and organization. He stressed the importance of minimizing delays in core project work to ensure that the quality of operations remains high.

In the long term, there are tremendous opportunities, especially in data analysis and information technology. With the new institution, it will be possible to achieve greater economies of scale and synergies in team operations, data infrastructure, and information dissemination, which will benefit all stakeholders in the energy sector.

Recording and Slides A recording of Orkustofnun's annual meeting, where these points were discussed, is available on YouTube.

Björn Arnar Hauksson’s presentation slides can be viewed here: Björn Arnar Hauksson’s Presentation Slides.

Major Steps Taken to Make Informed Decisions

At the recent Orkustofnun annual meeting, Director General Halla Hrund Logadóttir highlighted Iceland's unique position in utilizing renewable energy sources. She emphasized that the country's abundant energy resources have strengthened its economy, improved the quality of life, and fostered innovation and expertise, now shared globally. Iceland's ratio of renewable energy is exceptional on a global scale, laying the foundation for the nation's future energy strategy.

Energy Policy and Future Focus
In her speech, Halla Hrund also discussed Iceland's energy policy and the importance of the Master Plan (Rammaáætlun). She pointed out that the Master Plan ensures a balance between resource utilization and conservation, with major projects in hydropower, geothermal energy, and wind energy under consideration. She stressed the need for informed and well-considered decisions to ensure long-term resource sustainability for the benefit of society.

Energy Security and Challenges
Halla emphasized the importance of enhancing Iceland's energy security in light of recent challenges, such as severe weather and low water levels in Landsvirkjun’s reservoirs. She noted that Orkustofnun is working to increase efficiency and update data to improve access to information and strengthen energy security.

Wind Energy Planning
Halla also addressed the future potential of wind energy in Iceland, both on land and offshore, and how the government is working to define areas for wind farms. She highlighted the importance of collaboration and consensus among all stakeholders, including municipalities, environmental organizations, and industry. There are great expectations for wind energy to become a key part of Iceland's future energy strategy.

Collaboration and Social Consensus
Halla further underlined the importance of collaboration and social consensus regarding the utilization and protection of natural resources. She encouraged that decisions related to resource management be based on data and information, with the overall well-being of society in mind.

The meeting was well-attended, with diverse presentations and discussions on energy issues, future prospects, and challenges.

Halla Hrund's presentation slides can be viewed here:

Halla Hrund Logadóttir's Presentation Slides

The recording of the entire meeting, including presentations from all speakers, is available at the following link: Watch the full meeting.

Annual Meeting 2024: Iceland's Unique Position in Renewable Energy

Kristján Geirsson, Director of Sustainable Resource Utilization, discussed the importance of efficient and professional work practices in the licensing processes

The Importance of Efficient Licensing Processes and Improvements in Orkustofnun's Procedures

At the annual meeting of Orkustofnun, Kristján Geirsson, Director of Sustainable Resource Utilization, discussed the importance of efficient and professional work practices in the licensing processes, which are key to promoting the sustainable use of Iceland's resources. He described how Orkustofnun has streamlined and improved its processes to meet the growing demand for resources, which correlates with the increased need for licenses for resource utilization, such as groundwater and other energy projects.

Improvements in Licensing Processes
Kristján emphasized that Orkustofnun takes its licensing role seriously and works to ensure that all applications are handled professionally and in accordance with laws and regulations. Among the changes that have been introduced are increased emphasis on professional practices and efficiency in processing, aiming to shorten procedures, improve communication, and increase transparency. The project has focused on providing applicants with more flexibility and clarity about what is required to obtain a license, which has reduced delays in processing.

Increased Demand for Resources
Kristján noted that the demand for resources, particularly groundwater for aquaculture, has increased significantly. He explained that Orkustofnun has not always been able to keep up with the growing number of projects but is addressing this challenge by improving its processes. He pointed out that although Orkustofnun's licensing processes are sometimes criticized for holding back energy development, the fact remains that out of the 16 power projects approved by the Parliament in the utilization category of the Master Plan, only two applications for power licenses have been submitted, both of which have been processed. He also mentioned that following a legislative change in the Master Plan, where the expansion of power plants is exempt from certain provisions of the law, only one application has been submitted, which has also been processed.

Increased Efficiency and Streamlined Processes
Kristján explained the importance of clear processes and that all applicants understand the requirements for obtaining a license. Submitting an application is not enough; all fundamental aspects must be in place, such as agreements with landowners, compliance with planning, and completed environmental impact assessments. With improved and clearer processes, Orkustofnun has been able to accelerate procedures and address challenges related to licensing for energy and resource utilization.

Future Priorities and Challenges
Kristján emphasized that the organization is continuously working on improving and coordinating licensing processes, including collaboration with the Environment Agency and the Ministry. He explained that Orkustofnun has been working to streamline its procedures to make them more efficient and transparent for all parties. In this context, he also highlighted the importance of changes to the fee structure for licensing, which was established in collaboration with the Ministry to improve the process.

He also provided examples of large projects, such as Hvammsvirkjun and Búrfellslund, which have taken a long time to move through the licensing process due to complex factors and the scale of the projects. Despite these challenges, Orkustofnun has been working to improve its practices and align processes to ensure faster and more efficient processing of license applications.

Next Steps
Finally, Kristján discussed Orkustofnun's vision for the future and how licensing processes will be coordinated on a new platform in collaboration with the Environment Agency and other authorities. The goal is to ensure efficient and sustainable resource use, where a balance is maintained between utilization and protection.

The recording of the meeting can be viewed at the following link: Orkustofnun Annual Meeting 2024 Recording.

The Importance of Efficient and Professional Work Practices in the Licensing Processes

The National Energy Regulatory Authority is looking for a lawyer with a passion for energy and government administration to use their knowledge for analysis, reviewing and decision-making.

The National Energy Regulatory Authority is looking for a lawyer with a passion for energy and government administration to use their knowledge for analysis, reviewing and decision-making. This is a fascinating, temporary job for one year, with the possibility of extension, which tests legal skills and abilities. The job offers many opportunities. Application deadline until January 15, 2024.

More information, including educational and competency criteria, as well as contact information, can be found on the Icelandic version of this news item here.

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We are looking for a lawyer with a passion for energy and government administration