Iceland is a country of volcanoes and hot springs. There are many volcanoes on the island, one of which will soon be excavated to dig a tunnel into the volcanic magma chamber, where they plan to tap into unlimited geothermal energy.
The goal of the Krafla Magma Testbed Project in Iceland is to access the volcano's magma chamber, which would provide the country with unlimited renewable energy. Today, at least 90% of all homes in Iceland are heated using geothermal energy, and 70% of the energy used in the island nation comes from geothermal sources. However, these systems use relatively cooler geothermal energy, resulting in lower efficiency.
Reaching a higher temperature of the magma chamber could significantly increase the energy supply, so it is planned to try to reach the volcano's magma chamber in 2026. A single magma geothermal plant can produce at least ten times more energy, like a conventional geothermal power plant. Krafla is one of the most active volcanic areas in the world, located on the tectonic boundary of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and its magma chamber can reach temperatures of up to 1,300°C.
KMT scientists are still experimenting with suitable materials to withstand these conditions before the first drilling takes place in 2026. In addition to the new energy, it could also help predict volcanic eruptions.
