Holt Power Plant

Landsvirkjun has proposed to construct three power plants in the river Þjórsá. Originally, all electricity produced at these power plants was to be sold to Rio Tinto Alcan Iceland Ltd. for the projected extensions of the Straumsvík Aluminum Plant. In a referendum on the proposed extension in 2007, the citizens of Hafnarfjörður township rejected the proposals, and since then, Landsvirkjun has tried to engage other possible buyers for this energy. One example is the proposed aluminum plant in Helgavík, but permission for its construction has as of yet not been granted. There is a further proposal for a river diversion – the Norðlingaalda diversion – 8 km downstream from the Þjórsárver natural reserve, but this proposal has been classified protected. Nearby, in the river Tungnaá, proposals for the Búðarháls power plant have been given the green light and classified as exploitable.

The three proposed power plants in the lower reaches of the river Þjórsá, namely Hvammur Power Plant, Holt Power Plant and Urriðafoss Power Plant, are currently all classified as awaiting further assessment according to the Master Plan for Hydro and Geothermal Energy Resources. In the initial phase of the Master Plan, all three were classified as exploitable, but in the spring of 2012 when the Master Plan was ratified by parliament, it was decided to reclassify the proposals as awaiting further assessment, and to have the matter looked into more closely before reaching a decision.

Landsvirkjun‘s plans for harnessing the river Þjórsá have caused a great deal of division and disputes among the inhabitants of the river‘s surrounding areas. In some cases, entire families have become divided because of the issue, and the communal spirit in these communities has suffered.

Power plant construction would endanger the area‘s natural beauty and disrupt the river‘s harmonious environs.

Three waterfalls in the river would be destroyed, namely Búði, Hestfoss and Urriðafoss. The waterfalls would be forever silenced, thus greatly altering the experience of visiting the area. Since time immemorial, people have listened to the sound of the river Þjórsá, for example at Búði waterfall and the Núpsflúðir rapids, to make weather predictions – and they continue to do so today.

Great disruption could also be caused to the river‘s unique ecosystem, and the risk of erosion and dust pollution would be greatly increased due to the river bed partially drying up from diminished water flow.

In addition, construction would take place near the country‘s most productive agricultural region and in the immediate vicinity of inhabited areas. Agricultural land would be lost to reservoirs, roads and other construction in relation to the power plants.

Photo © Thorsten Henn

The Holt Power Plant and other proposed power plants in the river Þjórsá would cause great variations in river flow. The maximum flow volume could be up to 10 times as great as the minimum. This would almost certainly greatly disrupt wildlife on the banks of the river.

Sandstorms will be frequent when the surface of the river is low. Along an 8-9 km stretch in Árnessýsla county, the river bed is expected to become mostly dry to completely dry.

Photo © Hlynur Stefánsson

The Holt Power Plant is to rise just above the Búði waterfall. A dam will be built to divert the entire water flow into a tributary south of Árnes island. A reservoir will be created there with a 73 m-long dam close to the farmhouse Akbraut. Proposed power output is 53 MW.

Photo © Sigurgeir Sigurjónsson