A significant milestone in reducing greenhouse gas emissions was celebrated yesterday as Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson, Minister for the Environment, Energy and Climate, formally opened the Steingerður air capture facility at ON Power’s Hellisheiði Geothermal Power Plant.

The design and construction of Steingerður is a key component of the Silfurberg project, an innovation initiative supported by the European Union’s Innovation Fund. Together with the existing air capture station, Steingerður will have the capacity to capture nearly all carbon dioxide (CO₂) and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) emissions from Hellisheiði.

The opening of Steingerður marks a turning point, making Hellisheiði one of the first geothermal plants in the world to become nearly carbon neutral.

A Landmark Climate Project

The Silfurberg project, led by Carbfix and ON Power (subsidiaries of Orkuveitan), aims to demonstrate CO₂ capture and permanent underground storage on a larger scale than before. The project received €3.87 million in funding from the EU Innovation Fund, enabling Carbfix to scale up its technology.

With Steingerður, the facility will be able to capture around 30,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually, which will then be safely and permanently turned into stone using the Carbfix method.

A Natural and Proven Solution

Carbfix has been developing its technology at Hellisheiði since 2007 and has created a pioneering solution that transforms CO₂ into rock in less than two years. The method accelerates natural processes that mineralize carbon dioxide and safely stores it in subsurface basalt formations.

A Major Contribution to Iceland's Climate Goals

The Silfurberg project alone is expected to contribute 10% of Iceland’s 2030 climate commitments within the energy and industrial sectors not covered by the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

It aligns well with Iceland’s goal of a 55% reduction in emissions by 2030 and underscores the growing role of geothermal energy in the global energy transition.

Disclaimer

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Innovation Fund. Views and opinions expressed are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. The EU and CINEA are not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.