Haley Conroy - 2/9/23 - Iceland Research - Sustainability, Plate Tectonics, & Renewable Energy (Outside Expierence Blog)

In an era where countries all around the world are looking to implement more sustainable energy solutions, Iceland is ahead of the game. Iceland works to harness the elements like wind, sun, and even ocean waves to utilize all of its natural resources to its full capacity. One of the goals Iceland’s government strives for is to live in a society with zero waste and sustainable development. One of the ways Iceland utilizes the magma from their volcanoes is to harness the immense amounts of heat and utilize it for energy. There are roughly seven major plates that make up the continents and the many minor plates that fill up the rest of the Earth. These tectonic plates are constantly spreading apart from each other at a rate of about two and half centimeters per year. Plate tectonics is the theory that our planet’s surface is broken up into several rigid sections of thick rock. The friction between the shifting North American and Eurasion plates releases magma which causes an immense amount of heat to be released as it works its way up to the surface. This shifting of the tectonic plates is the catalyst to the bigger idea  of geothermal energy. Methanol, cosmetics, agriculture, and even farm-raised fish are all industries thriving in Iceland as a result of the byproducts created from the geothermal process. As the world’s largest green energy provider per capita, Iceland serves as an example to other countries of creating dynamic energy agendas.​ Therefore, Iceland is a unique country due to its geological location and ability to thrive off of renewable energy, geothermal energy, and hydropower. However, Iceland was not always as environmentally conscious. In the 19790s, the island was reliant on imported oil and coal for approximately 75 percent of its energy sources. In the modern day, Iceland now harvests nearly 100  percent of its energy from geothermal power and hydropower. The catalyst behind this change was that Iceland could not sustain oil price fluctuations occurring during a large number of crises affecting world energy markets. This economically feasible transition to renewable energy and stability took a great deal of time and dedication from Iceland’s leaders. The story of this transformation from fossil fuels to renewable energy serves as an inspiration to other countries.