Congratulations Class of 2016!

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1 Congratulations Class of 2016! REYKJAVIK, January 30 Graduating students in the Iceland School of Energy at Reykjavik University received their diplomas. The graduates have completed Masters in Sustainable Energy Science & Engineering over an 18-month program. To celebrate the commencement, the Iceland School of Energy organized a cocktail party where students reflected on their studies throughout the program and discussed future plans. Highlights of their time in Iceland include class time, internships, and thesis work. Favorite courses included Special Topics in Engineering, Energy Economics, and the new Geothermal Well Design and Drilling course. Internships at top companies in Iceland included wind power optimization at Landsvirkjun, geothermal tracer flow testing at Iceland GeoSurvey (ÍSOR), and a project management plan for the Iceland Geothermal Cluster. Thesis projects ranged from initial geothermal energy development in Malawi to technical modeling geothermal reservoirs in Iceland. Future plans for students include working at commercial energy companies around the world as power plant engineers, as well as continuation of studies towards a Ph.D. At Reykjavik University, students come from countries around the world with varying academic backgrounds and unite in Iceland to study their passions for renewable energy. Our graduates have accomplished great things and we wish them the best in their future endeavors. Congratulations!

2 Theses Presentations at 41 st Annual Stanford Geothermal Workshop Left to Right: María Gúðjónsdóttir, Cari Covell, Ximena Muguruza and Halla Hrund Logadóttir STANFORD, February 22 - Two Iceland School of Energy students presented their master s thesis research at the 41 st Annual Stanford Geothermal Workshop. The Stanford Geothermal Workshop is hosted every year at Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center in Stanford University and aims at bringing together engineerings, scientists and managers involved in geothermal reservoir engineering. Cari Covell spoke about hydraulic well stimulation in low temperature geothermal areas for direct use applications. The presentation focused around evaluating methods of hydraulic stimulation used in the oil and gas industry in order to model a pre-stimulation treatment for a geothermal well. The method is applied to a case study of the Hoffell low temperature geothermal field in east Iceland. Cari Covell Modeling stimulation for low temperature geothermal areas is an extremely important topic for discussion. If we can efficiently choose candidate wells to predict hot water production after drilling, the possibilities are endless.

3 Ximena Muguruza presentation focused on numerical modelling of the Hágöngur geothermal reservoir in central Iceland. Her model provides insight into the reservoir s behavior for future utilization of the geothermal field. Ximena specifically spoke about how she built aspects of the model, including the lithology, resistivity, and stratigraphy. Ximena Guardia Muguruza The thesis is very important for understanding the Hágöngur reservoir s behavior for future utilization of the geothermal fluid, and at the same time, assess the uncertainty in the production capacity of the reservoir, and the location of potential drilling targets. In addition to our student representatives, two other ISE faculty were present. María Guðjónsdóttir, Assistant Professor and Halla Hrund Logadóttir, Director of the Iceland School of Energy, provided insights on the geothermal industry throughout the conference as well. This is the first time that ISE sent all female representatives, speaking volumes about the important role women play in the geothermal industry. Opening of the Arctic Conference Left to right: Vivi Leon, Hon. Robert Barber, Halla Hrund Logadóttir, William Moomaw, Magnus de Witt

4 BOSTON, March 12 Two students, Vivi Leon and Magnus De Witt presenting their findings of arctic related research at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy s conference on Opening Arctic Conference. At the conference, problems and opportunities within the arctic were discussed ranging from arctic diplomacy, advancing pan-arctic infrastructure and how we can navigate a path to a sustainable arctic development. ISE students were joined by a prestigious group of participants and guests ranging from the senior arctic ministers, ambassadors, business leaders and renowned scientists to discuss our ongoing research into arctic issues. We look forward to welcoming many of them back to Reykjavik next fall for the Arctic Circle Conference. Student Arctic Research Showcase with ISE, Harvard Kennedy School and the Fletcher School at Tufts University Vivi Leon presenting her project with Reykjavik Energy on the CarbFix CCS Project

5 Reykjavik Energy Science Day Words Shanna Dacanay presenting her research on the water supply system in Reykjavik REYKJAVIK, March 14 - Students presented their work and progress on their internship projects at Orkuveita Reykjavíkur s (OR - Reykjavik Energy) event OR Visindadagur. Selma-Penna Utonih introduced a project she is working on with another student, Vivi Leon on carbon pricing at a carbon-capture and sequestration project at Hellisheiðarvirkjun, geothermal power plant, in south-west Iceland. Fritz Steingrube and Alfonso Barrenechea are working together to understand cold water recharge of geothermal reservoirs by investigating the district heating system in Seltjarnes a town just west of Reykjavik. Shanna Dacanay is working on creating a system of valuation for pollution on aquifer sources. Selma-Penna explaining the work that has been made on pricing carbon at Hellisheiði Power Plant

6 E-World Congress ESSEN, February 16 Members of the team at the Iceland School of Energy was present for the E-World Congress in Essen, Germany last month to take in the status of the European energy sector. E-World is the leading European trade fair in the energy sector and hosts over 25,000 attendees and over 600 exhibitors. In addition to the E-World trade fair, there is a congress which is dedicated to tackling the current challenges and opportunities within the energy business. This year, Iceland had a delegation from industry and related peripheries as part of Iceland s increasing presence within the European energy system. We look forward to next year s congress in order to continue building our international presence. This year s congress focused on challenges and opportunities in a low-commodity price environment

7 ISE Student Profile: Selma-Penna Utonih, Namibia Name and Major: Selma-Penna Utonih, Sustainable Energy Engineering Age: 25 Hometown: Windhoek, Namibia Undergraduate background: BSc Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing Why did you choose Iceland School of Energy? I choose the Iceland School of Energy due to my keen interest in the Energy sector. I knew studying at ISE would offer me a unique opportunity to study Sustainable Energy Engineering in a unique location like Iceland which would further my knowledge in this growing sector. I also chose ISE because the way the Master s program is set up, it would offer a rare opportunity to connect and train with industry professionals not only from Iceland but around the world. What is your favorite class trip? My favorite class trip was during our summer school period to Hellisheidi and Nesjavellir geothermal power plants. It was such a great learning experience for me as it was my first time ever visiting a geothermal power plant as we have none in my home country. The absolute best part of that trip was the wonderful hike we took, where I got to enjoy the sheer beauty of Icelandic landscapes and got to connect with other students from all over the world. Can you tell me one interesting /surprising fact you have learned about Iceland during your studies? The most interesting thing I learned was how environmentally conscience and dedicated the country is to using renewable energy sources for primary energy use and their continued successes within the geothermal energy industry is remarkable. Can you tell me one strange thing about Iceland? Mosquitoes don t exist here! Which coming from a country like Namibia where mosquitoes can be quite the annoyance during summer, this is a strange but wonderful thing about Iceland. What do you enjoy about living in Iceland? Since I have been here I enjoy almost everything about living here. The people are friendly and helpful, it s a peaceful country and the scenery is breath-taking with so many wonderful tourist attractions to explore. How would you describe life in Reykjavik? Serene but at the same time lively especially in downtown Reykjavik there is always something fun going on. It s also quite convenient as everything essential is within reach. What do you find different about being a student at Iceland School of Energy compared to where you have studied before? Firstly, I get to study in English! I did my undergraduate degree in Beijing and all of my classes were taught in Mandarin (Chinese). All of my textbooks were also in Chinese and thus studying at ISE is a breath of fresh air

8 because I get to fully grasp what I m being taught in class without having to spend long nights translating lecture notes. The close relationship between students and faculty members at ISE is to be greatly commended; it s a very open relationship where students can easily contact faculty members and get advice and guidance on pretty much any situation encountered. What advice would you give to somebody planning to come and study at Iceland School of Energy? Bring enough good quality warm winter clothes and invest in a good sturdy pair of hiking boots. Also when it comes to your Student Visa application process make sure you have a checklist with you and make sure to collect all the necessary documents well before the due time. Lastly, don t forget to bring a camera along with you to capture all the fun moments you will have here. Internship Spotlight: ÍSOR Two students in the Iceland School of Energy are conducting their master s degree internship at one of our partner companies, Iceland GeoSurvey (ÍSOR). The internship is done throughout the term in exchange for 8 ECTS. Julianna Hogenson and Daniel Caddy are studying the areas of Krýsuvík and Trölladyngja, where they are conducting multiple field work expeditions. Their job is to map the surface geothermal features and record temperatures of the features. The students will then take geochemistry samples of condensates and gas from active fumaroles in order to compare the results to previous tests and provide recommendations for further studies. Students map out geological areas in Krýsuvík and Trölladyngja. The methodology explained to us in the Geothermal Surface Exploration class for geochemical sampling has been directly applied to our project. Also the general knowledge of how geothermal systems operate have provided key base understandings for this project. Julianna says that there are several challenges to the job, but primarily explains that the biggest challenge is going to be about reading and accumulating enough knowledge of previous work in the area, to allow for a proficient comparison and new understanding of the current situation in the area. Daniel agrees and adds that the project requires their own input and ideas in order to provide the most comprehensive review of the study areas.

9 However, the project has many benefits, as Daniel says that working at ISOR has been rewarding in regards to conducting field work for producing useful research. Julianna talks about the importance of establishing connections with the ISOR professionals, and wants to understand the people to work with when she shortly begins her thesis. Our students are happy to work with ISOR and will ultimately present their findings in a formal report and presentation at the end of the term. It s nice to have access to everyone at ISOR, where I can gain valuable work experience in an environment I would definitely be interested in entering once I ve graduated. Thanks again for a great spring! The Iceland School of Energy offers a unique opportunity to study sustainable energy in close cooperation with leaders in the field of renewable energy. Our students strive to gain experience through opportunities in research, design, or the management of systems for sustainable energy. For more news and updates on our students journeys in the masters program, check out our Facebook and Twitter pages.