Það er fimmtudagur (It is Thursday!!!!!)
My life is complete. I am whole. I found Christmas. ( Reference from the last post.)
When I tell you I saw the northern lights, I mean we watched the aurora paint the sky. Bands of green stretched across the darkness with some of the clearest stars I have ever seen. It started when my Aurora app told me that my location was now inside the potential viewing zone. So, in all of my infinite wisdom, I walked outside in my pajamas and boots without socks, a hat, gloves, or a coat.
The first time I stepped outside, it was just a faint glow on the horizon. It almost looked like light pollution.
So I walked back inside and told myself that I would give it ten minutes, check again, and then call it a night. Ten minutes later, I waddled my way back out into the cold night, and there she was. Bands of light stretching across the sky.
I squealed. I jumped. And of course, I sounded the alarm.
I embraced my inner Paul Revere and started texting about five different group chats with my cohort, telling them they needed to come outside immediately. Thirty seconds later, the troops arrived, and we all freaked out like teenagers getting their first car.
She was a beauty. And she lasted all the way until midnight. Do not worry, I did eventually go back inside and make the responsible decision to put on warm snow gear. But we still toughed it out with the adrenaline of the lights, the cold wind stinging our faces, and the best group penguin huddle I have ever seen. There is nothing quite like standing in the middle of a penguin huddle while looking up at the northern lights.
Sorry, Jonathan, Josh, and Jess, because they definitely served as my wind shield.
Take a look at the pictures below and remember that when you think it looks AI-generated, it is not.
Telling you about the rest of my day is going to be tough after that dream came true, but I still had a great day. After being completely dead to the world this morning while people knocked on the door, slammed the window, and dropped something outside, I remained peacefully asleep, dreaming about the northern lights.
Eventually, we headed to our first quick stop before the main event. The location we visited was Kötlutangi, which means the Katla split. Why is it called that? The nearby volcano is named Katla, and the land in this area is literally split. I’m not gonna say it, but by now you know what I want to say. It starts with an L and ends with an L.
While we were there, we witnessed some of the most intimidating waves I have ever seen. Imagine those peaceful ocean wave audio tracks people play to fall asleep, but violent. We also collected small pieces of obsidian that the waves had washed onto the beach. I am sorry, land spirits. I could not resist the shiny rock.
For the main event of the day, we visited the Hellisheiði Power Station, one of the main geothermal power plants operated by the company Orkuveita Reykjavíkur. 90% of Iceland depends on the power provided by this company. For the next section, we are going to engineer a little bit. Just know that I was wearing a very stylish hard hat and safety vest, which is the classic wardrobe of an engineer. So imaginatively put on your hard hats.
The power plant we visited supplies about 303 MW of electricity and roughly 133 to 200 MWt of hot water for district heating. The company also operates another nearby plant that produces more hot water than electricity, depending on demand.
Here is the basic process:
- First, engineers test soil conditions, geological sites, and water samples to determine the best drilling location. We do love us some rocks
- Next, they drill deep into the ground. Roughly one out of every three drilling attempts successfully finds a usable geothermal reservoir. Statistically, Steph Curry has a better chance of making a three-pointer. But this 1 in 3 is higher than other locations, which can be like 1 in 12
- Hot water at temperatures close to 500 degrees Fahrenheit is pulled from the geothermal reservoir. That’s angry bubble water
- The fluid travels to a steam separator where the steam is separated from the mineral-rich water.
- The steam moves through pipes and spins a turbine, which generates electricity. Think hamster wheel attached to a motor
- The mineral water can be processed again through another steam separator to extract additional steam.
- The remaining hot water then passes through a thermal system where colder water is mixed in before the clean heated water is sent through pipelines to the city for heating. It leaves at roughly 185 degrees
- Wastewater is injected back into the ground to replenish the geothermal reservoir.
- Carbon dioxide is produced as a byproduct, so the project Carbfix works with the plant to reduce carbon emissions. The captured CO₂ is mixed with water and injected into naturally porous basalt rock underground. This triggers reactions with calcium, iron, and other minerals, turning the carbon into solid rock formations similar to minerals such as pyrite. Could have fooled me! (Get it, Fool’s gold… I am sorry.)
Now you are all geothermal power plant experts. Well, maybe not experts, but definitely closer.
One surprising fact is that the turbine energy conversion process is only about fifteen percent efficient. If you are thinking, ” Wow, that is low”, you would be correct. Another important thing to note is that hydrogen sulfide gas, H₂S, can also be produced. This gas is extremely toxic to humans, which means the plant must carefully monitor and control emissions. Iceland already has glaciers, volcanoes, earthquakes, and blizzards. We don’t need to add in strange man-produced hazards to that mix.
After the powerplant, we headed to a Gastro pub to try authentic Icelandic cuisine, including Puffin, Horse, White fish, and Atlantic Char. I have to say, sadly, despite their cute demeanor, the horse was the best.
Well, I am off to explore the night in downtown Reykjavik, but I will write you guys tomorrow for an update on the Reykjavik University and what downtown Reykjavik looks like full of life.
Sjáumst seinna (See you later!)
Swanson School of Engineering 