"The panel session was extremely successful, and the attendees showed great interest in the issue, reflecting its importance for energy transition in Iceland," says Hjörtur Jóhannsson, an electrical engineer at EFLA, who chaired the panel discussions at the EFLA Arctic Circle in-depth session.
Urgent Need for Tailored Solutions
The panel session, "Ensuring Stable and Reliable Operation of Future Sustainable Power Grids", addressed challenges associated with integrating wind power into small, isolated power systems like Iceland's. Hjörtur noted, "The focus was on whether the Icelandic electricity system can absorb the planned wind power capacity. The participants debated if solutions developed for large, interconnected systems could ensure safe operation in Iceland."
Three experts participated in the discussions: Klaus Skytte, Director of Nordic Energy Research; Prof. Nicolaos A. Cutululis from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU); and Gnýr Guðmundsson, System Development Manager at Landsnet. The consensus was that Iceland's energy system requires tailored solutions beyond those used in larger systems.
Learning from International Experience
"It is crucial to learn from international experiences in wind energy and adapt solutions to Icelandic conditions," Hjörtur emphasized. The discussion also highlighted the need to strengthen Iceland's transmission systems to enhance operational security. Participants reviewed Denmark's experience deploying wind power, which led to discussions on possible collaboration for research and development to support Iceland's energy stability.
Raising Awareness for Engineering Challenges
EFLA, a proud sponsor and participant at the Arctic Circle from the beginning, values this forum as a platform for sharing knowledge and fostering collaboration. "Events like this provide EFLA with an opportunity to bring urgent engineering challenges into focus and set critical issues on the agenda for energy system development," Hjörtur concluded. "With our expertise, EFLA is well-positioned to support Landsnet and other stakeholders in developing customized solutions suited to Iceland's unique energy landscape."