Iceland phasing out fossil fuels for clean energy
Iceland may be best known for world-famous musical export Bjork but there’s a new star quickly gaining this island nation worldwide acclaim — clean energy.
For more than 50 years Iceland has been decreasing its dependence on fossil fuels by tapping the natural power all around this rainy, windswept rock of fire.
Waterfalls, volcanoes, geysers and hot springs provide Icelanders with abundant electricity and hot water.
Virtually all of the country’s electricity and heating comes from domestic renewable energy sources — hydroelectric power and geothermal springs.
It’s pollution-free and cheap.
Yet these energy pioneers are still dependent on imported oil to operate their vehicles and thriving fishing industry.
Iceland’s geographic isolation in the North Atlantic makes it expensive to ship in gasoline — it costs almost $8 a gallon (around $2 a liter).
Iceland ranks 53rd in the world in greenhouse gas emissions per capita, according to the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center — the primary climate-change data and information analysis center of the U.S. Department of Energy.
Retired University of Iceland Professor Bragi Arnason has come up with a solution: Use hydrogen to power transportation. Hydrogen is produced with water and electricity, and Iceland has lots of both.
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