Reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide at Hellisheidi power plant in 2014-2017 and the role of CarbFix in achieving the 2040 Iceland climate goals

Abstract

The CarbFix gas injection method was developed to mitigate the gas emissions associated with geothermal utilization at Hellisheidi power plant. Pilot injections started in 2012 and the first industrial scale injection took place in 2014. The process was scaled up in 2016, and again in 2017. In 2017 about 10,000 tonnes of CO2 and 5,000 tonnes of H2S were injected back into the geothermal reservoir, corresponding to 34% and 68% of the annual emissions from the plant. The gases react with basaltic subsurface rocks to form stable minerals for safe, long-term storage of the injected gases.